‘VOTE TO END HUNGER’
Additional presenters and supporters have been announced for Sunday’s interfaith and bipartisan “Vote To End Hunger Rally” at Grand View University in Des Moines.
Rep. Mark Smith, (D-Marshalltown), Democratic leader in the Iowa House of Representatives, and Sen. Brad Zaun, (R-Urbandale), will make a few remarks.
The rally will also feature an Iowan who has lacked reliable access to a sufficient quantity of food. Jean Rolfe currently lives in Dubuque after moving from Wisconsin in 2008. She was married for 18 years before domestic violence ultimately ended her marriage. Her family ended up on food stamps not because she wanted to, but because she had to.
The rally is free and open to the public. Please register at votetoendhungeriowa.eventbrite.com for planning purposes. The event will begin at 2 p.m. and end at 4 p.m. Several videos of presidential candidates explaining their plans to address hunger and poverty will be shown in the arena beginning at 1:15 p.m. The event will conclude with training on attending the Iowa caucuses. Kathie Obradovich, political columnist for the Des Moines Register, will be the emcee.
Additional supporters have signed on the project, including the Western Iowa Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
The purpose of the rally is to make hunger a priority issue in the presidential campaign. Featured speakers will include Bishop Richard Pates of the Diocese of Des Moines and the Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World.
Supporters of the rally include Church World Service, the Western, Northeastern and Southeastern Iowa Synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Iowa Conference of the United Church of Christ, the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, the Presbytery of Des Moines, the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines, and the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
PAYDAY LENDING EVENT IN NORTHWEST IOWA
Particularly for our readers in Northwest Iowa, we are highlighting an event at Dordt College in Sioux Center regarding the ongoing epidemic of payday lending. “Predatory Lending: Today’s Debt Slavery” will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. in the Science Building. Co-hosted by Dordt College and the Center for Public Justice (CPJ), the event will include a keynote address by Stephanie Summers, CEO of CPJ. She will present a biblical perspective on payday loans and how we, as Christians, can respond to this growing issue of injustice. This will be followed by a panel discussion with:
- Rachel Anderson, Center for Responsible Lending
- Greg Baker, The Family Leader
- Katie Thompson, Center for Public Justice
Sign up at www.eventbrite.com/e/dordt-college-predatory-payday-lending-tickets-19257278037. We have worked with Rachel and Greg on this issue for years and hope you can attend.
AND FINALLY,
Pope Francis, who urges generous support for Syrian refugees, has opened the Vatican’s churches to refugee families. You can take his example to heart and help Catholic Relief Services (CRS) scale up their response to the needs of Syrian refugees and others arriving daily in southeastern Europe. CRS is working with the local Church and other partners to provide food, water, access to sanitation, medical care and legal services. Take action now by sending a message to your members of Congress asking them to support humanitarian and development funding and increased assistance for refugees of at least $1 billion. You can also call your members of Congress using a toll-free number: 888-562-8232.
