In Jensen: A National Model For Feeding The Needy

September 5, 2013 Kelly Jadon

In November 2013 $39 million in SNAP Benefits will be cut for all Americans. It is expected that this decrease in benefits will cause “hardship” and “food insecurity.”

As of April 2013, more than 47 million Americans are receiving Food Stamps, also known as SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP). (47,548,694 to be exact).

Compared with SNAP participation only five years ago, in 2008, which was 29 million, today’s numbers are remaining high because the job market continues to be weak.

The idea of food stamps arrived with Secretary of Agriculture Henry Wallace in May 1939. It ENDED in 1943 “since the conditions that brought the program into being—unmarketable food surpluses and widespread unemployment—no longer existed.”

President John F. Kennedy signed his first Executive Order, which called for expanded food distribution to fulfill a campaign promise. Since that time, the program has grown. April 1965 found 561,261 Americans on the rolls. By October 1974 the number had increased to 15 million.

After 2008, many industries in the country changed, affecting jobs. Layoffs were widespread. Although employment is up, the amount of new jobs which are part-time is 75%. In July 2013, 8.2 million Americans are in part-time employment, even though they would rather not be. Also rising are the costs of living-- food, the power bill, etc.. Part-time work will not pay all of the bills.

The key word for SNAP is “SUPPLEMENTAL.” These are not FULL benefits , but “in addition to.” The idea is that citizens are at work and purchasing the majority of their own food.

In November 2013 SNAP Benefits are expected to be cut for all. It is anticipated that this decrease in benefits will cause “hardship” and “food insecurity.” 23 million households (22 million children) in the United States will fall into these two circumstances. Approximately 10 million of the children already live in “deep poverty,” due to family income below half of the poverty line. 9 million others are disabled or elderly.

In August 2013, Chad Stone, Chief Economist, commented on the July Employment Report, “long-term unemployment remains a significant concern. Nearly two-fifths (37.0 percent) of the 11.5 million people who are unemployed — 4.2 million people — have been looking for work for 27 weeks or longer. These long-term unemployed represent 2.7 percent of the labor force.”

Carolyn L. Weaver of the Cato Institute has written about the care of the elderly and the poor prior to the Great Depression, in which it was primarily the responsibility of the private sector. Family, friends and neighbors “organized private charity.”

“There were no federal programs (other than veterans’ programs) to assist the poor, whether young or old, disabled or unemployed. The role of the government in preventing poverty through the provision of pensions and insurance was even more limited.”

As the United States transitions into more part-time employment buckled with higher costs of living, traditional methods of charity are being reestablished. One such organization which is a promising model for national use is The Bridge Christian Outreach Food Pantry located in Jensen Beach, Florida. Using extremely low overhead, local sources pool their resources to aid the needy from a two-county area. Under the non-denominational leadership of Pastor Jerry Herald, groceries are provided to over 200 poverty-stricken families. Three Fridays a month, frozen meat, fresh produce, baked goods, bread and canned products are trucked in and given out from a central location. No building is used for storage. Families arrive from surrounding towns—Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce and Jensen Beach (Martin and St. Lucie Counties).

Jerry Herald has this to say about his experience: “The face of today’s needy are many, but most are not homeless—they are marginalized. They are neighbors: men who have never been without work before but have been laid off, waitresses, part-time workers, single mothers, children, babies. These are the new poor. They are today’s widows and orphans.” Others have diseases, like cancer, and they hover on destitution’s doorstep--so ill they cannot work.

Pastor Jerry tells of a soldier, returned from Afghanistan with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). He has a wife and five children. There is not enough assistance from the VA to both pay the bills and purchase food.

Jerry Herald adds, “This part of our society makes life-struggling choices daily.”

Florida, a state hard hit in the economic crisis has 3,548,465 on SNAP. After November’s SNAP cut, an estimated 3,552,000 in Florida will be affected. That is 18% of the state’s population.

In Martin County, 59% of single mothers live in poverty, 29% of the children also do, and 5% of those over age 65 as well (2009 Census).

In neighboring St. Lucie County, the poverty rate is 20.3% for all ages, but climbs to 31.7% for children under age 18. (State of Florida 2011)

BackStory: Jerry Herald and his wife Evie moved to Florida in 2006 from Michigan. Before attending Concordia University, Jerry Herald was a Scout Sniper in the Marine Corps. A veteran, he finished his military duty as a Sergeant.

A humble man, Jerry Herald balks at interviews, but granted this one as he sees that the need to help more people is growing. Yet, as the pastor of this charity, Bridge Christian Outreach, he knows the people personally and can identify their needs. His work extends beyond the pantry: for example, to the hospital—where he has been a patient advocate.

“Bridge Christian Outreach never would have begun without Evie,” he adds. “She is the voice who saw the needy in Detroit several years ago, and spoke, ‘Let’s help.’” Their experience in the now bankrupt city prepared them for their work South Florida.

Pastor Jerry Herald at the food pantry handout

Bridge Christian Outreach has been meeting the needs of the marginalized for seven years. Tested by hurricanes, heat and cold, they have shown that they are here, to stay. As of now, 12 churches in the area offer various forms of assistance to Bridge Christian Outreach, as volunteers or by giving donations of food, money or grocery store gift cards. As the economic crunch continues, needs are expected to grow. 100% of all donations go directly to assist those in need.

No longer can the government be relied upon to take care of a town or city’s needy. Indeed, Pastor Jerry adds, “It is not the government’s function. Do what you can.”

This model functions with a food pantry as a central location—and three or four outreach locations within the town or city. Hot meals may be served at the outreaches. Needs may be addressed there too. Lay people may assist in these locations as well. The entire model operates at a minimal cost using dedicated volunteers based upon the Stephens Ministries concept.

Necessities: volunteers to organize food distribution and food (food banks, donations, etc)

Needed: volunteers as delivery couples, counselors, nurses on call, a dentist who will give discounted or free dental cleanings, a storage facility, just-picked produce, vitamins, baby food, over the counter medicines, diabetic supplies, free or reduced veterinarian visits, and even money.

For others who would just like to lend a listening ear to those who need help, there is training available through Stephens Ministries. It is a nationwide program.

The Bridge Christian Outreach operates out of the parking lot next to Jensen Beach Bowl. Currently, there is great need for further help from the Treasure Coast community.

For more information, contact Pastor Jerry Herald Email rev.j.e.herald@gmail.com

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Why Good News Matters In 2013

Adoption Coach Gayle Swift a Hometown Hero

September 4, 2013 Kelly Jadon

Steve Jobs hasn’t been gone long, but his legacy will endure. He was adopted. So were Nelson Mandela, comedian Jeff Dunham, figure skater Scott Hamilton, former First Lady Nancy Reagan and Moses.

Adoption is a necessary part of a civilized society and the practice spans back thousands of years in history. Time has shown that the world would be very different today without the births and adoptions of many individuals. Children adopted in the United States come through foster care, directly from a birth mother to an adoptive family (private adoption) or they are adopted abroad and brought to the United States.

“In 2007 and 2008, approximately 136,000 children were adopted annually in the United States.” (Child Welfare.gov)

In 2007 almost 20,000 were adopted from outside the United States, the number was a little over 17,400 in 2008.

Almost half of U.S. adoptions in 2007 and 2008 were private.

Sister Irene of New York Foundling Hospital with children. Sister Irene
is among the pioneers of modern adoption, establishing a system to board
out children rather than institutionalize them. Photo By Jacob Riis,
1888, Library of Congress — Sister Irene of New York Foundling Hospital with children. Sister Irene is among the pioneers of modern adoption, establishing a system to board out children rather than institutionalize them. Photo By Jacob Riis, 1888, Library of Congress

As of July 2013, the Children’s Rights Organization states that there are more than 400,000 children living in foster care, and 114,556 of them are adoptable because they cannot go back home.

Known as the Orphan Train, foster care in the United States began in 1854 with the relocation of orphaned and abandoned children to the West from New York City. About 200,000 children were placed on trains and distributed to families in 47 States and Canada by 1929.

Gayle Swift, an expert in child adoption states this, “Kids in foster care love their biological parents no matter what. Yet these are the people who have hurt them the most. It takes these children a long time to unlearn negative ways of thinking. To adopt a foster child is worthwhile but it is a bumpy ride. I myself cannot imagine my life without my kids and I regret nothing.”

Gayle Swift is an Adoption Coach. She is also the mother of two adult children adopted as babies by her husband and herself. Gayle Swift co-founded GIFT Family Services, which offers support to families through all phases of adoption. Gayle and her partners are all adoptive parents as well as certified coaches and they are dedicated to Growing Intentional Families Together.

Gayle seeks to debunk the myths surrounding adoption and instead provide hands on tools for families with whom she works.

An example: A child’s interest in discovering his or her roots is not betrayal nor rejection of his or her adopted family, but is curiosity.

Adoption – thinking has changed too, due to the developments of science. It is now known that the stress a mother goes through while pregnant affects the biological makeup of the child. How a baby’s brain was shaped in the womb was unknown 25 years ago.

Dual-heritage is a term used to explain an adopted child’s background, that of his biological roots and his adopted family. This can be an emotional conflict. Gayle Swift states that, “All adopted children know at some level that they were adopted.” Some of these kids are worried and think, ‘Could this happen to me again?’ The issue is one of rejection and it will need to be dealt with.

Gayle Swift adds, "Adoptive parents can struggle with this too, fearing that their children will reject them as parents. It is important that both parent and child understand these concerns are normal. When the shame factor is removed, relationships can be more authentic and bonds more secure."

Adoption is also not a fantasy. There are losses and grieving that need to be addressed, for the birth mother who will always have a loss, for the adopted parents who must “put to bed” their infertility issues, and for the children—who have lost their biological families and perhaps were abused. Gayle Swift says, “The gift of a baby has its roots in grief and loss for all involved.”

There is more openness today than there was in former generations when an adoption was more of a secret—children weren’t told that they were adopted, the birth mother never held her baby, adoption records remained sealed, etc.. This openness actually frees adoptive families up from the worry that they will lose their kids.

Gayle Swift comments, "Open Adoption is a very fluid term, encompassing a range of involvement between adoptee and birth parent. It can mean only knowing identities and exchanging photographs. Or, the relationships may include letters, phone calls or even visiting. Again, the degree and frequency is unique to each family and shaped by individual circumstance and mutual agreement. Open Adoption, while no panacea, reduces much of the anxiety adoptees have when first parents remain anonymous—when nearly any face in a crowd has the potential to be his birth parent."

There are still many States which do not allow adoptees to have copies of their original birth certificates. A movement has been begun to overturn these State laws and a few have acquiesced. Most adoptees see this as a fundamental right of the citizen to have what is theirs.

Adoption coaches support families before, during and after an adoption. They help parents explore, prepare and succeed as adoptive parents. Adoption is a lifetime journey. Issues of grief, loss, shame and rejection fade in and out of the spotlight. Adoption coaches like Gayle Swift have themselves wrestled with difficult issues. They know that adopted kids can’t have a timeout for bad behavior as that provokes rejection. Instead a “time in” with Mommy is used. And, it works! Adoption coaches help those who would like to adopt, but are afraid to, get over their fears and believe that they too can raise a child.

An adoption-competent coach serves to guide and support adoptive families through the lens of hands-on experience.

There are many children in the United States available for adoption. They need a “forever family,” one that will love them and call them their own. The need for parents is a lifetime need. (In 2013, 30,000 teens left foster care as legal adults, but had no family. These youth run a high risk of homelessness.)

November is Adoption Awareness Month and November 23, 2013 is National Adoption Day. Last year, 2012, 4,500 children were adopted by families in about 400 cities in the United States. This year, the program expects no less. In total, National Adoption Day helped nearly 44,500 children move from foster care to a forever family.

Gayle Swift recommends You Gotta Believe, a program in New York City which helps move the adoption process along quickly. In Florida, she points to the Children’s Home Society.

The keys to adoption are knowledge and love. Understanding that the process of raising a child is a family experience and knowing how to do it, greatly increases the benefits for all involved—a fulfilling life.

Gayle Swift and her adopted daughter Casey Swift (now an elementary school teacher) are the authors of ABC, Adoption & Me, a child’s book and a parent’s tool to help families celebrate adoption.

Both authors reside in Palm City, Florida.

Gayle Swift is a Hometown Hero. She is a person who has made her life's work that of helping children.

Gayle Swift’s Gift Family Services meets with families everywhere via telephone, Skype and Google Hangout. She can be found online at GiftFamilyServices.com or via email: Gayle@GIFTfamilyservices.com

HAVE A HERO TIP? Hometown Heroes are in every town and city. They are regular people who have made a positive difference in their community, impacting others for the better. Send your Hometown Hero tip to Kelly Jadon kfjadon@gmail.com or find her online at kellyjadon.com.

Why Good News Matters In 2013