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FOCUS
Vol. 6, No. 1 February 2011
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Looking Ahead FOCUS Congregations Renew Commitment

March 1st
LOBBY DAY to Common Work
March 19
Pancake Breakfast
FOCUS Winter Worship, a
8-11am gathering of covenant
to benefit FOCUS congregations on a cold
Interfaith Food Pantry Sabbath morning in
Delmar Reformed February, was a warm
386 Delaware Ave.,
Delmar c e l e b r at i o n of G o d ‟ s
presence in our community.
March 25-28
Ecumenical Advocacy
Days Irving Smith, President of the
Washington, D.C. FOCUS Executive Council
presented a look at our
April 24
Easter Dawn Service
common work: “This past
West Capitol Park,
6:30 a.m. year God‟s grace was evident in the life of FOCUS through
the continued support of our Feeding Programs, several new
April 30th initiatives, and prayerful visioning for the future.
Makeover at Pantry!
Empire BlueCross
visits with work team
Though we were and continue to be in an economic
downturn, it was awesome to note and to thank the many
May 1 volunteers, who made it possible to provide 3,768 households
CROP Walk groceries from FOCUS Interfaith Food Pantry and to provide
First Lutheran, 16,000 meals for the men, women and children who frequent
646 State St., 1 p.m.
the Winter Breakfast Program.
June 11th
Kids’ Gardening In A
Bucket Project—with
guests from Albany
Presbytery

FOCUS is the
collaboration of six
covenanted churches,
joined by six other
faith affiliates, united
in a common calling
to serve our
neighbor's needs in As advocates, FOCUS worked to influence our Legislators to
Albany’s Capitol Hill benefit the poor and the marginalized in our community by
and beyond as God’s transporting a soup kitchen to the Capital in protest for better
servant people in a
broken and hurting
jobs and living wages for all. FOCUS took up the plight of the
world. poor and hungry via the Annual Thanksgiving Action Press
Conference, and numerous visits to our elected officials.

In addition, programs that FOCUS supports on an ongoing

basis, such as „Computer for Kids‟, which had 10 students
complete the course; other programs included the Community
Harvest Garden with St Paul‟s Church, Siena College Souper
Sandwich Club which makes lunches for the Breakfast
Program and the start of a video project to document FOCUS
history.
A Strategic Planning group of the FOCUS
Executive Board met several times to vision and
plan for the future. The planning process was
framed around articulating a shared vision for
FOCUS, key areas to zoom in on for our common
work together, and to come up with specific steps
and actions to achieve for the future.

The process culminated at the

FOCUS Executive Board
Retreat. We looked at 3 areas:
1. Shared Vision – What is
Jesus calling us to do?
2. What are we doing now?
3. Putting it all together.

One of the pieces that the Board

recommended is to have a
concrete plan for Advocacy. As
we continue our calling, we as
FOCUS churches need to work FOCUS Executive Council meets for prayer, planning,
together to sustain our current and visioning on retreat at Sisters of St. Joseph
Corondelet Hospitality Center
programs, and to be more intent
President Irving Smith, far right.
on being a voice for the poor and
oppressed in our community.”

FOCUS Sets Priorities for 2011

Worship: Our source of identity
Feeding Programs:
Interfaith Food Pantry
Winter Breakfast
Extra Helpings Program
FOCUS Advocates:
Working for Long-term
Solutions to End Hunger
Communications:
Getting the Word out
Capacity Building:
Sustaining Our Common Work
Ecumenical and Interfaith—
Collaborations & Membership
Outreach

Souper Sandwich Club takes off at Siena College!

The Souper Sandwich Club at Siena College began delivering food to supply
FOCUS Churches Winter Breakfast Program with lunches one day a week on
January 25th! The Club is run by student volunteers with the help of the Director of
Dining Services, Norm Kvam, and his staff. The club began in the Fall semester of
2010, when Timothy Golden and John
DeCirce got into contact with FOCUS
through the Office of Academic and
Community Engagement. The idea for
the Souper Sandwich Club was inspired
by the Campus Kitchens model, which
uses “existing resources to meet hunger
and nutritional needs” in communities,
and provides service and leadership
opportunities for students. The Siena
Campus has not seen any club like this,
Siena students prepare sandwiches for
which allows Dining Services to support FOCUS guests
the club at no additional cost to Siena or
its students.

Tim and John worked very hard through the Fall to have Siena officially instate the
Souper Sandwich Club. The first interest meeting was held on December 1st, with
six attendees, and has since increased to 17 club members! The club‟s trial run,
which took place on December 6th and 7th, produced 80 sandwiches, and was a
test to see if the theory would smoothly transition into practice! The meals were
well received by all of the breakfast guests.
The club meets every Monday in the
dining hall of Siena‟s New Dorm for
preparation of the food. The lunches
consist of a substantial sandwich on
hearty bread, a fruit or vegetable, a
bottled water, and sometimes a sweet
snack! Then, at 6am on Tuesday
mornings, a brave student volunteer
makes the trip to downtown Albany,
where the meals are delivered to the
Breakfast Program at Westminster
Lunch bags waiting to be filled by volunteers.

Presbyterian Church. The Souper Sandwich Club has no intention of eliminating

the need for lunch making volunteers at FOCUS Winter Breakfast! They are
starting slow by delivering lunches one day per week, with hopes that eventually, all
of the lunches served are a product of the Souper Sandwich Club!
Through the contribution and generosity of Siena‟s Norm Kvam and his staff,
FOCUS can continue to offer a bag lunch component to the Breakfast Program.

FOCUS Churches
Annual Golf Outing
Join us Tuesday, Sav
et
September 13, 2011 Da he
te!!
at Orchard Creek Golf Course
in Altamont, NY

Start spreading the

word and form your
foursome now!

Proceeds support For more information, visit

FOCUS Emergency www.focuschurches.net
Feeding Programs or call 518-443-0460

The FOCUS Executive Council approves a 2011 budget

totaling pledged and anticipated total income of $239,227.
The budget supports all facets of FOCUS programming and relies on many
sources of income.
Pledges from FOCUS Congregations, totaling $47,615 will continue to support
the Community Minister position, outreach ministries, administration, and project
activities. Other income for these uses will come from fundraising and other
contributions. They are projected to provide $53,788, with a total for the core
budget of $101,403.
Food Pantry operation will require $111,000. That support will come from affiliate
faith communities, donations from FOCUS churches, individuals, groups, grants,
and a direct contract with NYS Department of Health.
Winter Breakfast operation will require $24,248. Support will come from
donations from FOCUS churches, individuals, groups, grants, and government
funding.

Check Out These Lenten Opportunities!

Looking for a brief, informal worship experience during the week where
prayer, reflection, music and silence can replenish your spirit?
Drop in for an Alternative Worship Service at Trinity Methodist, 235 Lark
Street! Worship takes place on the first & third Thursdays at 6:30pm.
Themes and reflection on March 3rd and 17th: “Our faith and decision
making…the choices we make and where „Church and faith fit‟.”
Book Study at Emmanuel Baptist, 275 State Street!
Brian McLaren‟s book, A New Kind of Christianity: Ten Questions that Are
Transforming the Faith. Choose Tuesday evenings March 15 - April 12 at
7:30pm over a dessert which will be provided, or Wednesdays March 16 -
April 13 at 12pm over brown bag lunch!
Hope College Symphonette to perform at Westminster Presbyterian!
Hope College Symphonette, a highly accomplished 40 member chamber
orchestra will perform on Tuesday, March 22, at 7:30 pm. 85 Chestnut
Street. Free and open to the public.
Trinity Methodist hosts Mental Players!
Program: SKITS on Monday, March 7 at 6:30pm. Dinner is $8.00.
Contact Phil Harris 273-1266 for reservations! 235 Lark Street.
Check Online for Ash Wednesday Services!

Delmar Reformed drchurch.org

First Presbyterian
Emmanuel Baptist
Israel AME
Trinity Methodist
Westminster Presbyterian
firstpresalbany.org
emmanuelalbany.net
first-Israel-ame.org
gbgm-umc.org/trinitychurchalbany
wpcalbany.org

Pancake Breakfast
To Benefit the FOCUS Interfaith Food Pantry

Saturday, March 19th

8:00am – 11:00am

Delmar Reformed Church Pancakes, Eggs, Bacon,

386 Delaware Avenue Sausage, Hashbrowns & more!

$7.00 per person & Kids Look for a great RAFFLE

under 5 FREE at the event!

Hunger Action Network of

NYS, ES2 & Better Choice
Budget Campaign

LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION
AND ACTION DAY
Grants, Gifts, Contributions
Support FOCUS Ministries

Tuesday, March 1st, 2011

Westminster Presbyterian Church, 85 Chestnut St, Albany
One half block west of the LOB/Capital Building
9:30 am Registration ● 10 am Issue Briefing ● Free Lunch
For more info, call 434-7371!
Noon Rally at the Capitol ● 1-4pm Lobby Visits
Help Demand:
1. More Funding for Jobs, Emergency Food
2. No Budget Cuts for homeless, welfare, grant, jobs,
education
3. Single Payer Health Care for NYS
4. Fair Taxes
5. Higher Minimum Wage

MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD AT THE STATE CAPITAL!

Gifts to FOCUS from December 2010 - January 2011

Thank You To Donors! The End-of-the-Year Appeal raised $11,565!

Angels to Each Other—All Saints Catholic Church, Homeless and Travelers Aid
Society, Aimee and Guy Allaud, Jane and George Allen, Joe Kenyeres and Jim
Amanatides, Ruth and Norman Andrews, Bien and Joe Baez, Susan Barwig,
Laurie Beberwyck, Richard and Peggy Becker, the Charles R. Woods
Foundation, Raymond Blanchard, Ed Block, Eileen Bossard, Diane and John
Bossung, David and Ann Brandon, Ruthanne Brod, Bruce Brynolfson, Carol
Bullard, Carol Lee Mark and Richard Butt, The Troy Savings Bank Charitable
Foundation, Elaine Clawson, Pamela Clements, Dr. Ray Coluccielo, Hon.
Richard Conti, Delmar Reformed Church,
Janet Cornell, Priscilla Crago, Richard and
Dawn Dana, al Davis, Gerard Deighan, Jeff
Carlson and Karen Dewitt, Arden and Marilyn
Dockter, Kevin Dulin, Albert and Susan
Easton, Irene Econome, James Edgar,
Beverwyck Worship Community, Steven and
Mary Ellito, Linda English, First Lutheran of
Albany, First Unitarian Universalist Society of
Albany, Cheryl Foy, Freda Gardner, Fran and
Janet Gelzheiser, Patricia and Paul Gioia, Tim
and Christine Gordon, J. Kenneth Graham,

Barry and Karen Greene, Judith Hanson, Katharine B. Harris, Kathleen Hodges,
Nancy Horan, William and Klaire Jameson, Wilma Jenssen, George Kleinberger,
Becca Leet, Ian and Edith Leet, Peter Leue, Miriam and Glenn Leupold, Lawrie
Lierheimer, Michael Lounsbery, Julie Mader, ZIPS, Ira Mandelker, Barbara and
Chuck Manning, Josef Markowski, Julie and David Martin, Misha Marvel, , Doug
Martin, William and Margie Mayer, Mary K. McCann, Lorna McCartan, Elizabeth
and David McMillan, Donna and Peter Meixner, Ellen Messina, Kathleen E.
Moore, William and Beverly Morrison, David Munro, Shirley and Rudy Nelson,
Patty Newell, Nancy Ost, John Overbeck and Donna Crego, First United
Methodist of Delmar, Anita Patka, Dr. Robert Pennock, Harvey and Iteke Prins,
Margaret and Paul Randall, Andrea Ricard, Ruth and John Russell, Evelyn and
Spencer Ryan, Lynn Scally, Peter and Nancy Schiff, Congregation Beth Emeth,
Bob Seelye, Abraham and Mona Selover, Edie Simpson, Carolyn Smith, Irving
and Diane Smith, James Southgate, Tovi Spencer, Linda Spencer, Elaine and
Walter Spoor, Linda and Robert Stevens, St. Andrew‟s Episcopal Church,
Barbara Teter, Todd and Jennifer Thomas, James R. Thompson, Robert and
Lois Thomson, Arlene Urell, Karha Us, Glenn Van Oort, Christine Wagner, Ray
and Barbara Warner, Bert Weinberg, E. Ramona Weisbard, Lora Wesner, Pat
Wilcox, Jacqueline Williams, Lois Wilson, Nancy Wilson, Charles and Judith
Wing, Gloria and David Wood, Stephen and Virgil Woodard, Bill and Amy Yates,
Barbara Zaron, and Margaret Zettle.

Grateful for: Jimmy of the Buttery Café by Linda Becker and John Wolcott; First
Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany by Arlene Gilbert; food on our tables by
Claudia and Leif Hartmark; Harlow and Mona Diegel by Daryl Hayes; for the
ministry of Rev. Deb Jameson by Jeffrey Matthews; for volunteers by Tom
McPheeters; Lois Wilson and all her service work by Lorraine Plauth; LeRoy and
Judy Suess by Alex Suess;
In Honor of: Revs. Miriam and Glenn Leupold by Lewis T. Boxwell; Jeff
Matthews by anonymous; Sim Goldman by Leslie Bristol, Judy Smiley and
Dorothy Belous by Louise and Don Jameson; Pat Hunziker and Nancy Rodgers
by Carole and Rit Keith; Fred Tietz by Margaret King, Debra Jameson by John B.
and Ro Kinum, Roseann Lohrey, and Leslie Phelan; Kathy Linhardt‟s work with
the Breakfast Program by Colleen Ryan; Mrs. Elizabeth Stein by Harriet Seeley;
Louise and Don Jameson by Judy Smiley and Pic Belous; Dr. and Mrs. Arthur
Hengerer by Susan and Eugene Sneeringer; Lorraine Houk by Mary Jean and
Allan Tedrow; many wonderful volunteers and brave guests by Stephen Winters;
In Memory of: Maria L. Kirchhoffer Carver and Lewis F. Carver; Lillian Johnson
by Roger and Carol Green, Harriet Keith by Gail and Sam Hill, Pat and Bob
Hunziker, Kay and Tom Zolezzi and Pat Campbell; Frank Martin by Mrs. Frank
Martin, Rev. Joyce Giles by Evelyn Stone; Dr. W. Larimer Mellon and Mrs. Gwen
Mellon, Hospital Albert Schweitzer by Robert and Leslie Westphal; Drs. Elmer
and Grace Green by Betty Williams;
Celebrating: Women in ministry by Patricia and Ned Trudeau

FOCUS is grateful for financial gifts

f r om a var i et y of ind i vid ua ls,
congregations, businesses, and
foundations in 2010. They include:
Emmanuel Baptist, First Presbyterian,

Trinity United Methodist, Westminster Presbyterian, Congregation Beth Emeth, First

Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany, New Covenant Presbyterian, St.
Andrew‟s Episcopal, Delmar Reformed Church and First United Methodist of
Delmar. Also, Advanced Physical Therapy; the Albany County Legislature;
Hannay Reels; Troy Savings Bank Charitable Foundation; NYS Department of
Health, Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP); NYS
Operational Support (HPNAP); St. Andrew‟s Society; Stewart‟s Holiday Match;
State Employee‟s Federated Appeal (SEFA); MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger;
Legislative Member Item from Senator Neil Breslin; Feinstein Foundation;
Reliable Bowling Group; St. Peter‟s Health Care Services; SEFCU; Standish
Family Foundation; and FEMA.; and the numerous individuals who support
FOCUS through donations and fundraising events.

We Need Your Help

The FOCUS Interfaith Food Pantry is now
providing a 7-day supply of groceries to
more than 300 families each month.
The Winter Breakfast is averaging over
130 people each morning. A hot,
nutritious breakfast and a take-away
lunch bag are offered to each individual.
Your donation helps feed hungry families
in Albany.
CLICK HERE to find a donation form that
can be mailed to the FOCUS Office at
275 State Street, Albany.

IN FOCUS is a publication of the FOCUS Churches of Albany, Inc.

Rev. Debra Jameson, Editor. Graphic design and production by
EHL Editorial Services, Albany NY. The FOCUS Churches of
Albany, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 membership organization
including Delmar Reformed Church, Emmanuel Baptist Church,
First Presbyterian Church, First Israel AME Church, Trinity United
Methodist Church, and Westminster Presbyterian Church. Affiliates
of the FOCUS Interfaith Food Pantry Program are Congregation
Beth Emeth, First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany, New
Covenant Presbyterian Church, and St. Andrew‟s Episcopal
Church. Project Partners include Delmar United Methodist Church
and First Lutheran Church.

The FOCUS office is located at 275 State St., Albany NY 12210.

Phone: 518-443-0460 FAX: 518-443-0461

Email: info@focuschurches.net

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