EMC Service Projects and Compassionate Action
UPCOMING COMPASSIONATE ACTION
ST. ANDREW’S FOOD PANTRY
TUESDAY, JULY 8, 12:00pm
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EMC LOCAL MATCHING DONATION CAMPAIGN
SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK
MAY 3-31, 2025
WE DID IT!!!
EMC Board and Sangha have raised $10,000 to offer to
THE SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK.
WE CAN’T CHANGE THE WORLD WITHOUT YOU IN IT!!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CARE AND YOUR GENEROSITY.
The EMC board decided to ask our community to consider making a special donation to the San Diego Food Bank. The Board authorized up to $5,000 matching donation, which would result in a total donation of $10K. As many of you already know, Federal funding for local food funds through the USDA have been drastically cut. The Food Bank estimates it will be losing $3.5 million in federal funding this year. This represents 1.5 million meals which is a major portion of the Food Banks funding. Locally here in Encinitas, St Andrews Church, which provides meals for up to 200 families per week, has a major portion of their food donations that come from the SD Food Bank. The overhead for the SD Food Bank is 7 percent, meaning 93 cents for every dollar they receive, is directly provided as food to the San Diego area. This is impressive, and so I think any donation we decide to give will be well spent and have a meaningful impact.
Given the gravity of our times and the recent reduction of essential funds from the Federal Govt. to
THE SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK,
EMC IS COMPELLED based upon our primary mission of compassionate action and way of being,
to direct our compassionate care efforts to support the SD Food Bank,
which provides all food pantries in the SAN DIEGO COUNTY area
with food items for those with food insecurity.
PLEASE JOIN US FOR AS EMC MATCHES DONATIONS UP TO $5,000 THROUGH MAY TO GIVE TO SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK IN JUNE, 2025.
http://www.encinitasmindfulness.org/emc-giving
RECENT POST FROM SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK:
In case you missed it, the San Diego Food Bank received notification that 1,850,000 pounds of food expected to arrive from the USDA
would not be delivered as scheduled. The cancellation included 26 truckloads of frozen protein, milk and canned food, representing more than 1.5 million meals for families, seniors, people living with disabilities, active-duty military, veterans, and other local community members experiencing food insecurity.
You can help advocate for long-term solutions. We encourage you to visit the link in our bio to contact your federal legislators to express your support for the Food Bank’s Emergency Food Assistance Program and the critical role it plays in fighting hunger. #FoodBank #Community
The San Diego Food Bank is facing increased critical need due to real cuts to government programs and decreased donations. They are also experiencing a growing demand for food assistance, with a recent study showing that 73% of people seeking help have full or part-time jobs. The San Diego Food Bank is relying on donations from the community and their annual gala to support their programs.
Here's a more detailed breakdown of their current needs:
Specific Needs:
Food donations:
The food bank is actively seeking donations of non-perishable food items, including canned protein, canned beans, pasta, pantry staples, canned vegetables, and cooking essentials.
Financial donations:
The food bank relies on financial donations to support its various programs, including the Food for Kids Backpack Program, which provides weekend meals to elementary school children.
The National Association of Letter Carriers is hosting a Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on Saturday, May 10th, where residents can place bags of non-perishable food items by their mailboxes for collection.
Advocacy:
The food bank is urging the community to advocate for the continuation of the Emergency Food Assistance Program by contacting their federal legislators.
Programs Supported by Donations:
Food for Kids Backpack Program:
This program provides weekend meals to elementary school children at risk of hunger.
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This program provides monthly supplemental food packages to income-eligible seniors.
Emergency Food Assistance Program:
This program provides food to individuals and families in need throughout San Diego County.
How to Help:
Donate food: Visit local food drives, such as the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, or donate directly to the food bank.
Donate financially: Make a monetary donation to the food bank to support their programs.
Volunteer: Volunteer time at food banks or local food pantries.
Advocate: Contact your elected officials to support the continuation of the Emergency Food Assistance Program
EMC International Charities
Compassionate Action (2024-5)
ShelterBox
1. Link https://www.shelterboxusa.org/home-page-2/news/
2. What They Do
Provides emergency shelter and essential items for for families who have
lost their homes due to disasters and in war zones enabling them to rebuild their lives
The items Include family tents, cooking kits, blankets, sleeping bags, water, solar kits, etc
3. Ranking
4 Stars from Charity Navigator-Supported by International Rotary, Lions, Veterans organizations.
4. What They Are Doing Now
Presently Shelterbox is actively providing shelter and other essential living items in the Caribbean, Morocco, Libya, Somalia, Turkey, Pakistan, Ukraine, Mozambique, Cameroon, Kurkina Faso Yemen, Ethiopia, and Gaza.The following link provides more detailed information on the impacts in each of these location for https://www.shelterboxusa.org/home-page-2/news/ “Since ShelterBox began in 2000, they have helped provide shelter for more than 1 million people. A million people who not only have protection from the elements, but a place to call home.”Alf Evans, ShelterBox Operations Manager.
World Central Kitchen
1. Link https://www.wck.org
2. What They Do
WCK responds to natural disasters like hurricanes, wildfires, tsunamis and volcano eruptions. They also provide meals for refugees at the US border, Venezuelan families and civilians in war zones like Gaza and Urkraine, as well for Tropical Storms Ernesto and Beryl. Its approach is to act quickly, listen to communities and adapt in real time to work with local organizations, restaurants, food trucks, and emergency kitchens to prepare and serve meals to survivors. WCK also prioritizes purchasing local ingredients to cook with or distribute to families in need, which as of May 30, 2024, World Central Kitchen (WCK) has served over 400 million meals to families affected by natural disasters and humanitarian crises.
3. Ranking
Charity Navigator’s score is 100%, earning a Four-Star rating for its assessment of financial health (efficiency, sustainability, trustworthiness) and governance practices and policies, as its program expense ratio of 95.6%, earning a 25/25 point rating.
4. What They Are Doing Now
As of May 2024, WCK is focused on providing meals to families affected by humanitarian and natural disasters in Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine, and Brazil. In Gaza, WCK has > 60 kitchens cooking meals – as of April, 43 million meals had been distributed. In Ukraine, WCK continues to provide hot meals, food kits and place to get warm for families in need
BECOME A SUSTAINING MEMBER of EMC SIGN-UP ON PATREON
THERE IS NO BETTER TIME FOR COMPASSIONATE ACTION
THAN THIS MOMENT!!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT.
At this time, EMC is offering weekly online and live/in-person sittings on most Saturdays!
Our zoom meeting #: https://zoom.us/j/4909809719 is to offer refuge, practice and to dedicate our practice merit to the well being of all those impacted by this current health crisis.
Please go to OFFERINGS tab to review our current weekly schedule.
It is the goal of EMC to offer as much support, refuge and practice
opportunities as possible so that all may benefit.
MAY-AUGUST WEEKLY PRACTICE:
TUESDAYS, 7:00 am - 8:30 am - Di or Sangha guides
THURSDAYS, 7:00 am-7:30 am - Greg M. guides
SATURDAY SANGHA, 7:30 am - 9:00 am GARDEN OPTIONS IN SUMMER
GARDEN MEDITATIONS: MAY 31; JUNE
EMC SAT. SANGHA ZOOM ONLY MEDITATIONS
NEXT ZOOM PRACTICE: SATURDAYS, MAY 10, 17, 24;
di guides—TU, 5/31 returning from travel;
EMC has designated the following organizations for on-going financial and service support through donations of time, goods, money and the deepest aspiration to be of service and benefit to those in need:
ST. ANDREW’S FOOD BASKET - EMC will make every other monthly donations through food collection for the local St. Andrew’s Food Pantry.
OUR NEXT FOOD COLLECTION WILL BE ON TUESDAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 2025. Please have all collected food items to GREG M. before noon on that day. THANK YOU.
St. Andrews Episcopal church in Encinitas has an ongoing program that has been providing needed food for local families in our area. Since Covid 19 impact, the need has increased dramatically, and they are now serving between 200-240 families per week. The food is packed in a box on Wednesday's with canned goods, pasta, rice, beans etc. On Thursday which is the distribution day, they add whatever fresh vegetables, fruits, meat, bread, etc. they have available.
Look for more detailed information through the weekly meditations.
REMEMBER, food items such as pastas, rice, tortillas, tuna, chili, canned tomatoes, other canned vegetables, fresh vegetables
such as celery, carrots and fruits are also welcome.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CARE AND HELP.
FEEDING EACH OTHER IS AN ESSENTIAL ACT OF CARE IN A WORLD WITH MILLIONS WHO GO HUNGRY EVERY DAY!
The Community Resource Center - whose mission is to provide families in need and victims of domestic violence with safety, stability and a path to self-sufficiency. Click here to learn more about Community Resource Center, Encinitas.
For a listing of our current events and additional information, please click here to visit the Events page.
