Looking Ahead

AUGUST 18-21

School Supply Drop Off

FUUSA, 9-12PM, pg. 5

AUGUST 26-27 Prep Days @ FUUSA

10-12PM. Vltrs. needed, pg. 5

AUGUST 27-29 Distribution Days @ FUUSA

10-1PM. Vltrs. needed, pg. 5

AUGUST 31 FOCUS Sunday at

Westminster Presbyterian

85 Chestnut St., Albany.

10AM.

SEPTEMBER 16-17 Faith for a Fair NY Retreat

pg. 5

OCTOBER 28—5:30 pm Save the date for volunteer

orientation and dinner.

8

In FOCUS

275 State Street

Albany, NY 12210

We Need Your Help

Your contributions make a positive difference in the

lives of our hungry neighbors.

The FOCUS Interfaith Food Pantry is now providing a 6-day supply of groceries to an average of 375 families each month.

The FOCUS Breakfast Express Program is serving more than 40-50 people each day during the summer, providing breakfast & a bag lunch.

Please help us by giving:

_____ $ amount

_____ $ amount — In honor of/in memory of (circle one) __________________________

_____ Please send me information about volunteering in FOCUS programs.

Name _____________________________________ Phone _________________________________

Address ___________________________________ E-mail _________________________________

Please return to: FOCUS, 275 State Street, Albany NY 12210

FOCUS

FOCUS is the collaboration of seven covenanting churches, joined by five faith affiliates, who are united in a common calling to serve neighbors' needs in Albany’s Capitol Hill and beyond as God’s servant people in a broken and hurting world.

Executive Council Provides Vision — new President Nancy Horan

Editor’s Note: Nancy Horan was

elected to serve as the President of the

FOCUS Executive Council in February

of this year. Among other presidential

responsibilities Nancy facilitates board

conversations around the vision and

mission of our common call as disciples

of Jesus. Nancy spends her days at the

NYS Library as a Senior Librarian.

Nancy shares with us some thoughts

on her life experiences with FOCUS.

Deb Jameson (DLJ)

DLJ: Nancy you have been a long-time

FOCUS participant and advocate.

What has kept you connected?

NH: I have been engaged in FOCUS

activities for over 30 years, serving on

the Executive Council from Emmanuel

Baptist Church, volunteering at the

winter Breakfast Program, joining in

book studies, and attending joint wor-

ship services. Recently I have in-

creased my participation in our advo-

cacy efforts, feeling the need to do

more than direct service. All this in-

volvement, with its challenges, excites

and energizes me, and provides me

with opportunities to live out my faith

in community and in solidarity with

others who share my vision.

DLJ: FOCUS has been described as a

“hybrid” ministry, reinventing itself

according to perceived need and re-

sources available; partnering with

many various faith traditions. Is that

your sense?

NH: Throughout these many years, I

have seen FO-

CUS evolve as

the needs of the

community we

serve change,

and as new peo-

ple and ideas

stimulate us to

move in differ-

ent directions.

But our core

mission re-

mains the same, doing together what

we cannot do alone. We are “united in

a common calling to respond to our

neighbor’s needs in the city of Albany

and beyond, as God’s servant people in

a broken and hurting world”.

DLJ: What is FOCUS up to today?

There are a number of recent develop-

ments which I would like to highlight.

We have expanded FOCUS with new

covenant churches. Just this year,

First Church in Albany joined in our

mission. FOCUS has seen an infusion

of ideas and enhanced participation in

the various programs. At Executive

Council meetings we now dedicate

some time to share what is happening

in our individual faith communities

and each year the council sets aside

time for a “retreat”, an opportunity for

reflection, sharing, community build-

ing and planning. In the feeding pro-

grams, there has been an emphasis on

healthy foods, with the community

garden, gardening in a bucket, and

more fresh foods at the pantry and breakfast. Cont’d on back page …

Vol. 8, No. 2 Summer 2014

Continued from front page … In the past few

years, we have stepped up our advocacy efforts.

Members of FOCUS have participated in actions

at the Capitol relating to minimum wage and

hunger issues and attended Ecumenical Advocacy

Days in Washington. We have hosted local politi-

cians at the Breakfast Program and been a part of

the Faith and Hunger Network gathering, joining

other communities of faith and organizations. In

these ways, we are living out our covenant to

“speak the truth in places of power on behalf of

the powerless”.

We continue our life in community through joint

worship and other opportunities for sharing and

learning. Recently First Church sponsored a

well-attended and well-received workshop on

non-violent communication.

DLJ: What do you see as some of the adventures

ahead for FOCUS?

Of course there are challenges, in particular the

increasing needs of those we serve as reflected in

the numbers of guests we see at breakfast and the

pantry. Securing adequate funding for our pro-

grams requires diligence and effort. Advocacy can

be difficult work. It is easy to get discouraged and

wonder if we are making a difference. And finally,

with the widening of our covenant circle, we need

to find ways to feel connected and in community.

As we continue our journey together, I invite you

to join me, in spirit and prayer, and in whatever

way you are able and feel called. God is indeed at

work among us.

Worship

End of Summer:

August 31, 2014 Westminster Presbyterian

10am

Till we’re together again:

February 1, 2015

2 7

Gardening in a Bucket (GIAB), a seasonal project

of FOCUS, has wound down after another

successful season. Pantry guests brought home

container gardens which included pots, soil, seed-

lings, and expert advice on how to grow tomatoes,

green peppers, and cabbage. The Pantry also gave

out more than 100 seed packets. Many of the

guests had gardened before but now had no space

for a traditional garden. They were enthusiastic

about container gardening and many took home

multiple pots as well as seedlings. Over 80 house-

holds participated in Gardening in a Bucket this

year.

Gardening in a Bucket for Kids is another facet of

the Gardening in a Bucket project. It is a combi-

nation art/gardening event. Children receive pots,

which they can decorate any way they like, and

then plant cherry tomato seedlings in them. The

children are reminded of the things plants need to

grow: soil, sun, and water. GIAB for Kids went

“On The Road,” taking the project to a local fami-

ly homeless shelter where the families’ housing

situation was uncertain. In addition to the

children living at the shelter, FOCUS brought the

project to two free summer day camps for

Above: A snapshot from the Gardening in a Bucket project this

summer at Israel AME’s GWU Center, Washington Ave., Albany.

underprivileged children. These children come

from low-income urban families, some of whom

may also be at risk for losing their housing. In all,

52 children participated in the project this year.

They had a great time, and we did too!

FOOD EMPOWERMENT—

Youth Learn to Grow Their Own Veggies through Gardening In A Bucket

Becca Leet Join the FOCUS Photo Petition! After each Summer

Worship service, FOCUS will be standing by, offering you

the opportunity to add your voice to the 2014 photo petition

to protect vital child nutrition programs. Hold one of our

signs or make your own.

I Stand to End Child Hunger!

Advocacy Spotlight

Above: Revs. Valerie Faust and Frances W. Rosenau speak at a

“NY for All of Us” press conference to raise the wage in New York.

Above: FOCUS and Bread for the World meet Sen. Chuck

Schumer’s staff in Washington, D.C.

Below: The Rev. Kathy Donley rallies to raise the minimum

wage.

3

MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger

James and Carol Ackerman

Reszin Adams

Adirondack Beverages

Nick and Jeanne Alesandro

Jane and George Allen,

In Memory of Lisa Walker

Rich Angelo, In Memory of Lisa Walker

Michael and Toni Asbury,

In Honor of the Entire Family of God

Bien and Joe Baez

Donna Baker

Susan and Floyd Barwig

Richard and Peggy Becker, Grateful for the

great work of the FOCUS Program

Helen and Frank Benoit

Elizabeth Berberian

Christin Bloecker

Joan K. Bobier

Eileen Bossard

Diane and John Bossung

Mrs. Barbara Bradley

Leslie Bristol

Martha and Peter Brown

Carol Bullard, In Honor of parents,

Ruth & Kenneth Fairfax

Patty M. Burch

Dominick M. Calsolaro

Ella Campbell

Steven Carlson

Claire Carroll, All Saints Catholic

Church-Angels to Each Other,

In Memory of our deceased angels

Lois and Patrick Caulfield

Elaine Clawson

Hon. Richard Conti

Janet Cornell

Dr. and Mrs. Robert Correia,

In Honor of Meghan Aberle

Susan and James Cox

Priscilla Crago

Julia Creighton,

In Honor of Rev. Robert Lamer

Richard and Dawn Dana

Gerard Deighan

Delmar Reformed Church

Betty Devine

Arden and Marilyn Dockter

Kevin Dulin

Frederick Eames

Susan Easton

Irene Econome

James Edgar

Millicent Edison

Emmanuel Baptist Church

Verna Engstrom-Heg

Katherine Enockson

Deb Fagans

Feinstein Family Fund

First Church Albany

First Presbyterian Church, Albany

Robin Forshaw

Cheryl Foy

Marjory Fuller

First Unitarian Universalist Society

Lawrence Gambino

Janet Gelzheiser,

In Memory of Francis L Gelzheiser

Shirley Gibbons

Gary David Gold

Lois Griffin

Elizabeth and Kenneth Halvorsen

Hannay Reels

Lee Helsby

E.A. and D.G. Henningson, In Memory

of Art and Mary Henningson

Ray and Katie Henrickson

Kathleen Hodges

Joyce Holly

Nancy Horan , In Memory of Ken Graham

Glenn and Donna Humphreys

Pat and Bob Hunziker

Islamic Center of the Capital Region

E. Louise Jameson

Deb Jameson , In Memory of the Rev.

Christine Wickman

Wilma Jenssen, Celebrating and grateful

for great grandchildren

Dolores Johnson

Annette Johnson

Jim and Mary Kalas

Fran Kamp

Karen Kaufmann

Carole and Rit Keith

Virginia King

John B. Kinum

Dawn and John Knutson

Cindy Smul-Kukla and John Kukla

Alison Kurtessis

Tom and Barbara Lahut

Cheryl Lasher

Pat Lavin

Joseph Lemmond

Tara Lindsley and Charles Kite

Roseann Lohrey

Tony and Marilyn Malone

Julie and David Martin

Jeffrey Matthews

Linda Mayou

Jan McCracken

Tom McPheeters

Peter and Donna Meixner

Ellen Messina

James and Margaret Miller,

In Memory of Irving Smith Sr.

Esther Moore

David and Martha Musser

Rebecca & Russ Myer

Shirley and Rudy Nelson

Kathleen and Peter Ordway

Nancy Ost

Richard and Margaret Otty

John and Marilyn Paarlberg

First Church in Albany

Leslie Phelan

Nancy Pierson

Harvey and Iteke Prins

Dennis Radliff

Margaret and Paul Randall

Kathy Ravida, In Honor Of Her Parents

Robert and Linda Rennie,

Grateful for Everything

Andrea Ricard

Mrs. Clayton E. Rose

Ruth Russell

Colleen Ryan

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church

Peter C. Sarinelli

Peter and Nancy Schiff

Alice Schrade

Mary P & Keith Scott

Harriet Seeley

Abraham and Mona Selover

Geraldine L. Shanley, In Memory of Faith

Catallo, FP Director, Grace Episcopal

Church, Waterford, NY

Peter B. Shawhan

Sheryl Sheraw

Edie Simpson

Carolyn Smith, Grateful for Deb

Susan Sneeringer,

In Memory of Janet Hengerer

Elaine and Walter Spoor

Linda and Robert Stevens,

In Memory of Robert Kamp

Rebecca Syltebo

Allan and Mary Jean Tedrow

Robert and Lois Thomson

Beth Tilley

Trinity United Methodist Church

Ned & Patricia Trudeau, Celebrating 35

years together as a couple in FOCUS

Samuel A. Trumbore

Lora Wesner

Arlen Westbrook

Westminster Presbyterian Church

Robert and Leslie Westphal

Mary and John White,

In honor of Mary E. Robinson

Patricia A. Wilcox

Betty Williams, In Memory of “My Sister”

Albertha Mackey, First Israel AME

Lois Wilson

Lucy Wong

Gloria and David Wood

Sheila Wrede

Margaret Zettle

Gifts to FOCUS Programs Contributions Made from February 2014 – July 15, 2014

6

In FOCUS is a publication of the FOCUS Churches of Albany, Inc. Rev. Debra Jameson, Editor. FOCUS Churches of Albany, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization covenanting with Delmar Reformed, Emmanuel Baptist, First Church (Reformed), First Presbyterian, First Israel AME, Trinity United Methodist, and Westminster Presbyterian. FOCUS Interfaith Pantry Affili-ates are Congregation Beth Emeth, First Lutheran, First Unitarian Universal-ist Society of Albany, Islamic Center of the Capital District, New Covenant Presbyterian, and St. Andrew’s Episcopal.

The FOCUS office: 275 State St., Albany NY 12210

Phone: 518-443-0460 FAX: 518-443-0461 Email: info@focuschurches.net • www.focuschurches.net

Honored for Reaching Our Neighbors FOCUS was represented by Rev. Jeff Matthews

and Rev. Deb Jameson as members of United

Methodist Conference agencies and church teams

that had received a grant last fall to start minis-

tries with the poor. The Reaching Our Neighbors

Mission Oversight Team met with grantees at

their office in Syracuse for a time to connect and

celebrate their work. The group met with Bishop

Mark J. Webb, Director of Connectional Ministries

the Rev. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding, and Reaching

Our Neighbors Mission Oversight Team member

the Rev. Robert Sherburne.

Every year for the last 17 years the Feinstein

Foundation has divided 1 million dollars among

non profits nationwide working to end hunger.

They do it as incentive to give in order to

help organizations raise funds during March and

April. Contributions to FOCUS food programs

included: 373 canned goods, $7,000 from faith

communities and $4,456 from individuals. Thank

you to all for the needed support. Later this sum-

mer we will receive news from the foundation

Alan Shawn Feinstein

about our share

of the 1 million

d o l l a r p i e

(previous years

averaged $280.)

Alan Shawn

F e i n s t e i n ,

founder of the

Feinstein Foun-

dation, is a nationally known philanthropist and

humanitarian. He has made an indelible impact

on American education and public service that

has spread throughout the country.

The 2014 Feinstein Challenge

Faithful Partners FOCUS is pleased to announce the 11th year of

funding from MAZON: A Jewish Response to

Hunger. President and CEO, Abby J. Leibman

wrote to us:

“MAZON is

e x t r e m e l y

proud to

stand beside

you as you

c o n t i n u e

your critical

a d v o c a c y

work on be-

half of peo-

ple in need”.

MAZON’s support this year has enabled us to

staff a half-time position for advocacy. MAZON is

a national nonprofit organization working to end

hunger among people of all faiths and back-

grounds in the United States and Israel.

Statewide grantees meet & celebrate in Syracuse, NY.

worked tasks they

usually do not do.

It was managed so

smoothly that I just

approved what they

organized. Remem-

ber, until Tax Sea-

son ended, I volun-

teered two days a

week in the AARP

tax prep program so those days I wasn’t available

to appear in the FOCUS office.

When friends ask about FOCUS I usually tell

them that it is an ecumenical organization doing

a shared service ministry. I then add that it is

the only ecumenical group I’ve seen that does not

talk about ‘what we believe’ and what you

believe.’ We just share important work and

ministry together.

5 4

Ponderings with Rev. Keith Scott Rev. Keith Scott

Rev. Debra Jameson has asked me to write about

my three months as the Temporary part-time In-

terim Director. That title is my own choice, in-

vented in the first week, when some breakfast

guests wondered why I was in the dining room

and not washing dishes. One asked, with a grin, if

I’d been fired from dishwashing.

As the usual Tuesday dishwasher, I understood

our shared ministry. After all, everybody talks to

the dishwasher and 98% of our guests thank us

for what we provide. When I moved from the dish

department, I immediately got a much larger

view of our ministry. Our Pastors in the winter

breakfast program, Victor and Mike, have demon-

strated the real benefit of providing pastoral care

for both guests and staff. Personal conversation

with a caring friend is crucial for everyone in a

moment of crisis. And, I learned from many

guests how important our resource tables are in

providing connections to other social service

groups.

We all are simply responding to the needs of our

poorest friends and neighbors with food, compan-

ionship in safe situations, and public advocacy on

their behalf. I see all this as response to Jesus’

command to love our neighbors as ourselves. To-

gether we share an important work.

I have two examples of how that happens.: One

day the chief cook returned from vacation with a

very painful back, acquired on the trip by carry-

ing too much luggage too far. He discovered he

could not stand safely at the stove and needed to

leave. The second cook took over cooking, some-

one else in the kitchen replaced the second cook

and our standard kitchen routine continued.

With very little conversation the entire problem

was immediately solved.

At different times, two staff members each spent

an unexpected week in hospitals. Our organiza-

tion is tightly staffed, without the layers of back-

up found in larger enterprises. It required phone

calls to arrange coverage for program activities;

some staff chose to manage two responsibilities at

the same time. Part time staff and volunteers

FOCUS on School Supplies is now under way,

with sorting and distribution of supplies slated

for late August! 250+ students received full

backpacks of grade-appropriate supplies last

year, and boxes of surplus supplies went to

Albany City School District programs.

If your congregation is collecting supplies: They

may be taken directly to the First Unitarian

Universalist Society at 405 Washington Ave.,

(glass-doors entrance) from Monday., Aug. 18th -

Thursday, Aug. 21st, 9 a.m.−Noon.

Volunteers needed (must be signed up ahead of

time) in August to sort supplies, fill backpacks,

& distribute packs to the children. To volunteer,

call (443-0460) or e-mail Becca Leet

(beccal@focuschurches.net). All volunteer activi-

ty will take place at FUUSA. Volunteer dates

and details here:

Donations Both supplies and monetary contri-

butions are needed to equip children adequately

for the start of the school year. Contributions

should be marked “FOCUS School Supplies” and

sent to FOCUS: 275 State Street, Albany 12210.

Gear Up for School

Preparation Days Tue., August 26 Wed., August 27 from 10am to 12noon

School Supplies Needed:

No. 2 pencils (sharpened if possible)

Pencil sharpeners Pencil pouches Pencil boxes, plastic 2” pink erasers Pens — blue or black ink Crayons — box of 24 Colored markers Colored pencils Dry-erase markers Yellow highlighters Glue sticks & Glue bottles School scissors * 1-subject spiral note-

books — wide-ruled and college-ruled

Hard-cover 3-ring binders, 1” or 1½”

Notebook paper, wide-ruled

Notebook paper , college-ruled

Marble composition books — wide-ruled and college-ruled

12” Rulers Pocket folders 3” Sticky-back notes Backpacks Calculators * = Items

especially needed.

Distribution Days Wed., August 27 Thu., August 28 Fri., August 29 from 10am to 1pm

At FOCUS Breakfast Express Advocates Meet: left to right: County

Legislator Christopher Higgins, Beth Glassanos, Emily McNeill, Nancy

Horan and Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy.

Faith for a Fair New York Retreat Tue., Sept. 16th at 11 AM—Wed., Sept. 17th at 2 PM Dominican Retreat Center • 1945 Union St. Niskayuna, NY

Join with clergy, faith leaders, and congregants of many faiths

& denominations to tackle issues of social and economic justice in NY

State. Workshop topics include: Moral Budgeting, Low-Wage Worker

campaigns, Immigration Reform and NYS Dream Act, Single-payer

Healthcare, Prison Reform, and more.

FOCUS scholarships available! Call Beth at 443-0460, bethg@focuschurches.net. Register (call Emily McNeill: 646-256-5727 /email emcneill@labor-religion.org). More info—www.labor-religion.org

At First Church Food Pantry: first row: Hannah Dorn, Pantry Manager

Lorraine Houk, 2nd row: Gertrude Dorn, Jane Ward, Joyce Recine, Joeanna

Brown, Emily Bianchine 3rd row: First Church staff Noel Concepcion.