Volunteers raise funds for Brethren hunger response.

One of the untold tales of hunger response is the creative way volunteers give time and talent to support global food security development, reports Howard Royer, manager of the General Board's Global Food Crisis Fund.

In Harrisonburg, Va., the newly opened Tried and True thrift shop raises money through the resale of used clothing, dividing its "first fruits" proceeds between the Global Food Crisis Fund and Mennonite Central Committee. An initial check for $1,000 was received this spring from Ken and Deb Layman, managers of the joint Brethren and Mennonite venture.

Folksinger and storyteller Joseph Helfrich of Bradford, Ohio, released a CD titled "Make a Difference" as a benefit to the fund. The 19 songs by Helfrich and other musicians were recorded at the 2001 Song and Story Fest at Shepherd's Spring in Maryland. Since its release two years ago, Brethren Press has reported quarterly sales of from $100 to $200. In addition, Helfrich this spring sent a check for $1,000 from his own sales of the album. (Order from Brethren Press, call 800-441-3712.)

This June the volunteer servers at St. Martin's Table, a bookstore and restaurant in Minneapolis, Minn., passed their tips on to the Global Food Crisis Fund. An outreach ministry of the Community of St. Martin, the enterprise provides "food for thought" by selling books that promote inclusiveness, nonviolence, justice, and care for creation. The ministry also serves vegetarian meals and locally grown organic foods as a celebration of God's gifts, and hosts conversation and evening programs on peacemaking, justice issues, the arts, and community building. Mysti Roberts Murphy, a 1995-98 Brethren Volunteer Service worker, is the volunteer coordinator. Tips average about $2,000 a month.

A portion of the money raised at the Quilt Auction held each year at Annual Conference also is contributed to the Global Food Crisis Fund. The auction is sponsored by the Association for the Arts in the Church of the Brethren and supported by the many people who send blocks from congregations across the country, and those who gather to help quilt the squares together during the Conference. This year the auction raised a total of $21,450.

A youth "walking workcamp" that walked some 100 miles to Peoria to attend Annual Conference also raised funds for the Global Food Crisis Fund and the General Board's Emergency Disaster Fund. The group received sponsorships of over $4,000.

Source: 7/07/2005 Newsline
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