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One Great Hour of Sharing serves tens of thousands of people in over 80 countries. American Baptist Churches–USA uses this offering to help disaster victims, displaced persons, and those with chronic human needs, both in the U.S. and overseas. In 2022 they distributed 70% of 2.8 million dollars to carry out urgent disaster relief efforts. This year our offering will be designated for the victims of the recent tornadoes and floods in the U.S. Come to hear more about OGHS and disaster relief after church on June 11.

The Outreach Team is shifting its focus to Food Insecurity for the remainder of this year and chose five local non-profits because they create access to healthy food or deliver free food to needy families, the homeless and seniors. Not having access to sufficient food to meet basic needs is a concern that impacts the U.S. and our state. 34 million people in the U.S. are food insecure, 9 million of which are children. In Michigan 1 in 9 people, and 1 in 8 children, face hunger. These organizations supplement government assistance programs to decrease those statistics. Their services address the causes of food insecurity such as unemployment, lack of housing, chronic medical conditions, disabilities and racial or ethnic disparities. Each of these non-profits are outstanding examples of how food insecurity is being addressed. The team invites you to learn more by attending the Mission Moments after worship.

Forgotten Harvest performs a unique function in Metro Detroit to relieve hunger and prevent nutritious food waste. They rescue food surpluses from grocery stores, markets, restaurants, and caterers, which would otherwise go to waste, and deliver it free-of-charge to non-profit emergency food providers. Our American Baptist Friendship House is one of them. Their mission is to put into action as they deliver 144,000 pounds of surplus food per day to families who are food insecure and struggle to cover the cost of basic life necessities. Forgotten Harvest helps create communities that work together to end hunger and increase individual, neighborhood, economic, and environmental health. On August 6, the Mission Moment will feature Forgotten Harvest Community Engagement Coordinator, Mary Moore-Butler, who will enlighten us about how the organization fights food insecurity and waste. She will highlight their new facility in Oak Park and 95-acre farm in Fenton that grows fresh produce. We will also learn about the organization’s many programs, including mobile and school pantries, summer lunch and youth snack programs, and providing fresh food for seniors and veterans. As inflation continues to impact the cost of food and other necessities, emergency food providers are seeing an increased need across Southeast Michigan. The Outreach team asks for your support to help relieve hunger in Metro Detroit and prevent nutritious food waste through your donations to Forgotten Harvest.