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1. FOCUS Summer Worship

2. School Supply Drive
3. Advocacy Updates
4. Empty Bowls 2016 is Coming!
5. Senior Issues Forum
6. Summer Appeal
1. FOCUS Summer Worship

FOCUS Summer Worship

August 2 @ 9:30 am

Join us at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 275 State Street. Parking is available BEHIND THE CHURCH, ENTER FROM Washington Ave. through Fort
Orange Club or alley next to Accuprint. The Rev. Kathy Donley will be
preaching, participants will lead a segment focus on advocacy. There
will be an opportunity for a group photo after the benediction. Joe Paparone from FOCUS and Joanna Nadeau from Emmanuel will lead a teachin on wage issues after the service. There will be nursery and child care
for children through 6 years old. Children ages 7 and up stay in worship.

2. School Supply Drive

FOCUS on Schools is almost here! Please continue to collect supplies at

your site. SEFCU has just alerted us that they plan to donate 240 back
backs to our project! Supply donations may be dropped off at FUUSA
(First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany) 405 Washington Ave Albany, from August 24 through August 27, 9 am to 1 pm.
Volunteers will be needed to pack and distribute supplies.
If you can help, please call Belinda at the FOCUS office, 443-0460 or
email her at belindaq@focuschurches.net.

3. Advocacy Updates
BREAKING THE PRACTICE AND TORTURE OF SOLITARY CONFINEMENT
At the FOCUS Joint worship service on
July 5th, we were joined by Chris
McNabb from the National Religious
Campaign Against Torture. After the
service about 40 people joined him to
learn more about the ongoing torture
of solitary confinement in our prisons
and some steps we can take.
We gathered signed postcards asking
Assemblymembers McDonald and
Santabarbara to co-sponsor the HALT
Solitary legislation, and well be delivering those to the offices the last week of July. If you are interested in joining us on those visits, contact Joe .
At the workshop there were some questions regarding the alternatives to
solitary included in the HALT legislation we gathered some info and its
too much to include in the alert, but e-mail Joe and he can pass it along.
DONT KEEP HUNGRY KIDS WAITING
The Child Nutrition Reauthorization is
set to expire September 30th! These
bills are critical supports for needy
families who depend on food assistance throughout the year. Learn more
about the bills here, and then tell Congress how important it is by sending a
letter here.

WAGE BOARD UPDATE

The Fast Food Wage Board appointed by Gov. Cuomo should have their
recommendations finalized by the end of this month, and things are looking good for a substantial minimum wage increase for fast food workers!
At the last hearing, all three members of the board agreed that the wage
should be raised to at least $15/hr, and they discussed details of implementation. Once they make the recommendations, there will be a period
for public comment. Well provide links as soon as theyre available.

4. Empty Bowls 2016 is Coming!

Help is needed on the planning committee - Can you lend a hand?

Please call or e-mail revdeb@focuschurches.net

5. Senior Issues Forum

Theres still time to register!

Faith Communities Keeping Seniors

Connected and Engaged
Wednesday, July 22, 2015 Carondelet Hospitality Center, Latham, New York
Rev. Susan Vincent- Cox will be the keynote speaker next week. Registration is free. Here is
the link to the registration form and to the Schedule for 7/22.
Call Albany Guardian Societys registration phone line at 518-269-3976 or e-mail Albany
Guardian Society at director@albanyguardiansociety.org.

6. Summer Appeal
July 2015your donations make a difference

Click Here to Learn More About the Summer Appeal

FOCUS Churches of Albany
275 State St. Albany NY 12210
518.443.0460
www.focuschurches.net