Great Article about Bishops Storehouse

[lusciouschaos]

Loved this article published in the San Francisco Gate. Some Public Affairs Director is really magnifying their calling:

Mormon food bank a private welfare system

I only take slight umbridge at the idea that we only help our own. I tried to find statistics to quantify the amount of aid provided to non-lds organizations and found this:

The Mormon Church has sent service workers and material relief to victims of over 150 disasters since 1986 alone. Service and aid are provided regardless of any consideration, including religion, ethnicity, and nationality, and is valued in the tens of millions of dollars annually. In the last 20 years, 200 million pounds of food, clothing, and medicine were donated in 147 countries, almost all to members of other faiths. Service is offered to countries where Mormon missionaries are banned by law. The Church is able to send relief quickly because there is no need to wait for donations or purchase supplies. Mormon Church members donate their service and resources regularly, and supplies are stored at Salt Lake and elsewhere, ready for distribution. The LDS Church also works with and donates extensively to other, "non-Mormon" charities.

I am sure someone else can quantify the value of service and goods better than I.

In the comments to the article from the Gate, I was surprised to note how many commented along the lines:

Good for the Mormons but they only help their own.

Having just requested $500 worth of goods from the Bishops Storehouse to donate to my local food bank I know this is not the case.

[Iggy]

Hi Lusciouschaos

Is this what you were thinking about:

http://www.providentliving.org/welfare/pdf/WelfareFactSheet.pdf

Number of major disaster assistance efforts (1985–2008) 193

Recent examples

China earthquake relief 2008

Midwest U.S. flood relief 2008

Ethiopia famine relief 2008

Peru earthquake relief 2007–2008

Africa measles vaccination campaigns 2004–2008

Southeast Asia tsunami relief 2004–2007

Humanitarian assistance rendered (1985–2008)

Cash donations $282.3 million

Value of material assistance $833.6 million

Countries served 167

Food 61,308 tons

Medical supplies 12,829 tons

Clothing 84,681 tons

Educational supplies 5,965 tons

Hygiene, newborn, and school kits 8.6 million

Provident Living may have even more- this was just a quick check.

[lusciouschaos]

Exactly Iggy. Thank you.

[Elphaba]

I only take slight umbridge at the idea that we only help our own.

I think people believe this because non-members could not personally approach bishops for aid. I don't know if this policy has changed or not, as it sounds like it has. But many still have that perception, including some members.

I actually think not including the Church's aid to non-LDS is a significant oversight. This is a reporter, and I can't believe he didn't at least do a quick google search before writing the story.

If he had, he would have at least discovered the aid to Katrina victims, which was substantial. I'm sure other things would have popped up as well, but to omit these types of aid really does skew the story.

In addition to tithing 10 percent of their income, adherent church members fast for two meals a month and contribute the cost of those meals to the church's welfare programs, which include the storehouses.

Is this true? I only remember fasting on Fast Sunday.

This caught my eye:

As the recession has deepened, the church says it has seamlessly kept up with demand that increased 20 percent over the past year.

Question: Do local charities approach the Church for aid, or does/did the Church initiate it?

Elphaba

[darrel]

My background is in Welfare Services for 17 years in the Las Vegas Nevada area. The Church regularly contributes food and commodities to local agencies.

Thanks for the heads up.

[Palerider]

The Church does more than just help their own....

[hordak]

In addition to tithing 10 percent of their income, adherent church members fast for two meals a month and contribute the cost of those meals to the church's welfare programs, which include the storehouses.

Is this true? I only remember fasting on Fast Sunday.

Elphaba

2 meals on fast Sunday

[Hemidakota]

I am sure someone else can quantify the value of service and goods better than I.

In the comments to the article from the Gate, I was surprised to note how many commented along the lines:

Good for the Mormons but they only help their own.

Having just requested $500 worth of goods from the Bishops Storehouse to donate to my local food bank I know this is not the case.

It seems that many really take upon themselves to make these assumptiions vice in seeking help, not being a member of the church.

[Elphaba]

2 meals on fast Sunday

Oh, yeah.

Thanks Hordak.

Elphaba

[lusciouschaos]

Little known fact:

Each Stake has the ability to request $500. worth of food or whatever is needed from the Bishop's storehouse annually to support whatever local charitable organization they designate. This would seem like a small amount but it is just one out of a myriad of programs.

Here locally, we are using it this year to provide canned fruit and jam to one of our local agencies. This would translate into roughly 1,000 jars of jam.

Prices at the Bishop's Storehouse at different as well, speaking as one who purchased 8 cases of Strawberry, Rasberry and Marionberry jam in 2001 which I gave as neighbor gifts and we are still enjoying it today 8 years later.

Hmmm, jammm

[lusciouschaos]

This caught my eye:Quote:

As the recession has deepened, the church says it has seamlessly kept up with demand that increased 20 percent over the past year.

Question: Do local charities approach the Church for aid, or does/did the Church initiate it?

I met with the local folks who say demand is up year over year 25% so far. This doesn't really tell the whole story because some of the more extreme difficulties in markets started showing up in the fall of last year.

The organizations I work with note that they are seeing a different type of client through their doors today than a year ago. Professionals who have lost high paying jobs are using the government funds to cover rent and utilities and are coming to the agencies for assistance with food to get by.

As to the question of charities or the Church initiating the aid. It is both. Local charities that have received the aid in the past have become aware of the program and will appropriately reach out to the church through the member contact. I sit on an Advisory Board for We Care a non-denominational agency that provides service in a number of cities in Orange County. If they did not ask, I would initiate anyway. The requests are approved through the local priesthood channels.

What is perhaps more interesting to me is a discussion we had with local pastors at a recent advisory meeting. Local churches, including the LDS church, do not have unlimited resources and the days of going to a back door of your local church to request help may become obselete soon.

Pastors are feeling an increase need to funnel the needy to a place like We Care where individuals can meet with a caseworker and a more complete needs assessment can be done.

While not the norm, fraud is beginning to creep into charitable giving. Individuals making requests for rent assistance from multiple churches is on the rise. The ecclesiastical leaders are looking for the means to help as many as possible with a focus on helping as many as possible return to self-sufficiency.

[Palerider]

Little known fact:

Each Stake has the ability to request $500. worth of food or whatever is needed from the Bishop's storehouse annually to support whatever local charitable organization they designate. This would seem like a small amount but it is just one out of a myriad of programs.

Here locally, we are using it this year to provide canned fruit and jam to one of our local agencies. This would translate into roughly 1,000 jars of jam.

Prices at the Bishop's Storehouse at different as well, speaking as one who purchased 8 cases of Strawberry, Rasberry and Marionberry jam in 2001 which I gave as neighbor gifts and we are still enjoying it today 8 years later.

Hmmm, jammm

The Bishop will call the Stake President and mention that a food pantry within his boundaries needs some food and then the Stake will send about 500 dollars worth from the Bishop's Storehouse...

[Elphaba]

As to the question of charities or the Church initiating the aid. It is both. Local charities that have received the aid in the past have become aware of the program and will appropriately reach out to the church through the member contact. I sit on an Advisory Board for We Care a non-denominational agency that provides service in a number of cities in Orange County. If they did not ask, I would initiate anyway. The requests are approved through the local priesthood channels.

What is perhaps more interesting to me is a discussion we had with local pastors at a recent advisory meeting. Local churches, including the LDS church, do not have unlimited resources and the days of going to a back door of your local church to request help may become obselete soon.

Pastors are feeling an increase need to funnel the needy to a place like We Care where individuals can meet with a caseworker and a more complete needs assessment can be done.

While not the norm, fraud is beginning to creep into charitable giving. Individuals making requests for rent assistance from multiple churches is on the rise. The ecclesiastical leaders are looking for the means to help as many as possible with a focus on helping as many as possible return to self-sufficiency.

I am moved by your commitment to the "We Care" program, and all of the great work you do for people who have fallen on hard times. It makes me think if there is something I could do, because I think it is so important to do what we can to help people in these dire times. I'm thinking I might start a thread about it, but I have to think about it.

Elphaba