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Deacon testifies to help build 'ladder out of poverty' |
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By The Catholic Spirit
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Thursday, 11 February 2010 |
Deacon Jim Meyer testified on behalf of the Minnesota Catholic Conference before a Minnesota House committee Feb. 5 in support of the Ladder Out of Poverty
Deacon Meyer
Task Force Bill. Based on the recommendations outlined by the Legislative Commission to End Poverty by 2020, the bill — HF 2062 — was authored, in part, by MCC, the public policy arm of the Minnesota Catholic bishops. It was heard by the House Labor and Consumer Protection Division, which passed it unanimously. It is now on its way to the House Commerce and Labor Committee.
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News Notes
The Catholic Spirit Staff
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“This bill, as I see it, is crucial,” Deacon Meyer told the legislators. “There are so many people living right on the edge, that one unexpected thing happens to them and they’re way back . . . to the beginning.”
He described a young family he knows with five children who is
“starting to move forward” out of poverty, but its situation continues
to be precarious. Many people in poverty need education about making
financial decisions, like renting and borrowing, saving and spending
money, added the deacon, who encounters many people in need through
ministering at the Cathedral of St. Paul and Catholic Charities.
According to MCC, the legislation “establishes the Ladder Out of
Poverty Task Force to identify best practices for helping low-income
Minnesotans build and maintain financial assets.”
World Day of Sick Feb. 13
Bishop Lee Piché will celebrate Mass for the World Day of the Sick Feb. 13 at the Cathedral of St. Paul.
The 10 a.m. Mass is intended for all who are sick, their care-givers
and all health professionals. The Mass will conclude with an
opportunity for the sick to receive an individual prayer for healing
and grace. A reception will follow. The archdiocese, Curatio and the Order of Malta are co-sponsoring the Mass.
Operation Warm Feet
Two Minneapolis marketing businesses, AOI Marketing and Rovrr, Inc. have teamed with 15 homeless shelters to launch www.OperationWarmFeet.com,
an online program that makes it easy to donate socks to homeless
shelters like Sharing and Caring Hands of Minneapolis and others.
Operation Warm Feet is one of the first programs of its kind to connect
socks and other in-kind donations directly to shelters in a fully
customized online environment. Donors simply select the shelter of
their choice and purchase socks.
“We wanted to simplify the in-kind donation process and make it easier
for donors to respond to urgent needs of local charities,” said
Jennifer Katz, CEO of AOI Marketing.
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