FOCUS Churches of Albany 275 State St. Albany NY 12210

518.443.0460

www.focuschurches.net

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2. Breakfast Express

3. Advocacy Spotlight

SNAP safe for now The House passed the final FY 2016 budget resolution 226-197 and, unlike the

previous House proposal, SNAP will not be included in budget reconciliation. This

means that if Congress wants to pass SNAP cuts which they could unfortunate-ly still pursue later this year they will have to use the normal budget process to do it (i.e. overcome a likely filibuster in the Senate). While this does not eliminate

the threat, it certainly makes it harder to carry out. In fact, without reconciliation,

Congress may not have the appetite for a lengthy SNAP battle at all. If you have-

nt yet, please take a moment and sign the ongoing petition from the Food Re-search and Action Council to protect SNAP: http://bit.ly/1A0no5L

Bread for the World will be holding their annual

lobby day in Washington D.C. on June 9th, and

FOCUS will be sending a group to participate.

If you are interested in joining, please contact

Joe Paparone (joep@focuschurches.net) by May

22nd. Scholarships are available!

Upcoming Moral Mondays - Faith leaders and people of conscience will be gath-

ering again at the NYS Capitol to call for just and moral policies on many issues,

including poverty and hunger relief, the call for a living wage, criminal justice re-

form, and fair taxation.

There are several upcoming events, at 5:30pm in the War Room of the Capitol:

Monday, June 1st

Monday, June 8th

Monday, June 15th

For more details or to RSVP, click here or e-mail Emily McNeill

FOCUS transitioned to the seasonal breakfast mid-April. We are pleased to offer

a cold buffet offering of cereals, milk, juice, hard boiled eggs, yogurt, instant oat-

meal, toast and fresh fruit. Every Tuesday & Wednesday from 7:30 - 8:30 at

Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Like to volunteer from 7am to 9 am? How about being a sub?

Please contact Belinda at the FOCUS office: 443-0460

or email her: belindaq@focuschurches.net

1. Gardening in a Bucket Opportunities

Were ready to hit the road to bring Gardening in a Bucket (GIAB) to Albany family shelters, schools and summer day camps. Children learn about growing and caring

for vegetable plants while they decorate pots and assemble a portable garden to

take home with them.

We need volunteers to assist staff. If you can commit an hour or two call Belinda

at 443-0460 or e-mail belindaq@focuschurches.net for dates, times & locations.

4. Serving Albany

The Capital Region Ecumenical Organization

(CREO) is sponsoring a program on

Ecumenism: What Does It Mean to Young Peo-ple? on Sunday, May 31, at 3 p.m. at the Chap-el House Interfaith Center near the University at

Albany campus. A panel of college-age young

people will share their views and experiences of

ecumenism in their lives. There will be time for

discussion, and the program will conclude with

a worship service. A pot-luck supper will follow.

We believe this program will be of interest to

you as you seek to involve more young people

in your activities. If you can attend, please e-mail CREOs interim coordinator, Edith Leet, at creoboard@gmail.com and tell her who will be attending and what

you will be bringing to the pot-luck, e.g., salad, main dish, dessert, or something

else.

1. Gardening in a Bucket Opportunities

2. Breakfast Express

3. Advocacy Spotlight

4. Serving Albany

5. Interfaith Food Pantry

6. Capital Region Ecumenical Organization

7.and a Slicer.

6. CREO May 31 Program

The FOCUS Interfaith Food Pantry received over 70 post office totes full of non-

perishable food items Monday, thanks to the Albany County Post Office drive this

past Saturday. Special thanks to the post offices for such a huge success. Our

pantry guests will have plenty to choose from for many weeks.

FOCUS is looking to find a home

for an old fashioned, vintage,

hand-turned cheese/meat slicer.

It is in mint condition.

Please inquire via Belinda at the

FOCUS Office (443-0460

or belindaq@focuschurches.net)

7. ...and a Slicer

FOCUS gardeners! tis the season to plant your vegetables. How about planting an extra row with the intent of sharing your extra harvest of fresh produce with

the Food Pantry?

5. Interfaith Food Pantry

Postal Delivery

This summer, Westminster Presbyterian Church is hosting a Summer mission

program where middle school and high school youth will spend 3 full days

Serving Albany in the South End. After work each day, they will gather for games,

worship and dinner together. Youth from FOCUS Churches are invited to partici-

pate. This is a great opportunity to be serving our community. Please contact

Pastor Frances Rosenau at Westminster Presbyterian Church or click here to

find out more.