Children Praying for Children in Need
Interfaith Prayer Initiative
Light the Way will be sponsoring several events during National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, November 12-20, 2011, with special emphasis on raising awareness of the growing needs of homeless families with children and helping houses of worship come together to help meet these growing needs.
Light the Way is asking houses of worship across the Midlands to encourage children and youth in their congregations to join their hearts in prayer for hungry and homeless children -- and all children in need -- during Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, Nov. 12-20, 2011.
We’ll also host a special Children Praying for Children in Need Interfaith Prayer Circle on Sunday, November 13 at 3 p.m. at Eastminster Presbyterian Church. You’ll find more information on this special event in the information that follows.
Light the Way is asking each house of worship to publicize the Children Praying for Children in Need initiative to their congregation via your newsletters and youth groups and to encourage all children – elementary through high school – and their families to attend the Nov. 13 prayer circle.
Look for more information soon about other events planned for Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.
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Children Praying for Children in Need Interfaith Prayer Circle
Light the Way invites children (and their parents and youth leaders) from houses of worship and the community to join children from local homeless shelters for a Children Praying for Children in Need Interfaith Prayer Circle on Sunday, November 13 at 3 p.m. at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 3200 Trenholm Road in Columbia.
Each child who attends is asked to bring a small donation (even a penny) to purchase a Light the Way wristband with the name of a child for whom they promise to pray during Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. All proceeds from the event will be divided among the participating organizations including the Columbia Family Shelter, St. Lawrence Place, Children’s Garden/Vital Connections, Hannah House and Samaritan’s Well.
The Rev. Julie Songer Belman, Light the Way board member and Minister of Outreach at Shandon United Methodist Church, will lead the prayer circle, which will include singing children’s songs from various faiths and information about how children can help other children in need in the community. Cupcakes and punch will be served at the conclusion of the prayer circle.
For more information on the Nov. 13 Children Praying for Children Prayer Circle, please visit our website at www.LightTheWayColumbia.com or call 803-348-1965.
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Homeless Families with Children: The Numbers and Needs are Growing
Homeless families with children are among fastest growing segments of the homeless population, and their numbers are growing. Please take a moment to look at the latest statistics on homelessness in the Midlands.
- In 2011, a one-day count conducted by the Midlands Area Consortium for the Homeless identified 1180 homeless people in Richland and Lexington counties who were living on the streets, in shelters or awaiting release from a medical facility. This number is estimated to be as high as 3,000-6,000 annually.
- Many more people experience periods of homelessness during the year or live “doubled-up” with family or friends with no other place to call home
- Homelessness in the Midlands has increased by 17% in the past two years.
- One in four identified homeless were living in families;16% were children under the age of 18.
- According to the latest data report from Kids Count, in S.C., almost one in four children are living in poverty; 40% are living in one-parent families; and 34% of S.C. children are living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment
- In the 2010-2011 school year, Richland and Lexington school districts reported 2,148 homeless students, with 1,197 of those in Richland District One.
- Children’s Garden, a day center for homeless children, is operating at capacity (40 children) and has a waiting list of 30 children.
- More than 1,000 families sought assistance last year from the Columbia Family Shelter, the only emergency shelter for homeless families, -- the victims of unemployment, domestic violence or other families crises. Of these, the Family Shelter could accommodate only 140.
- Lexington Interfaith Community Services (LICS) receives more than 100 calls and up to 50 walk-in requests each day for emergency financial assistance. They must turn away about 45 families a day.
- Many of the working poor simply cannot afford housing. The required hourly wage to afford a 2-bedroom apartment in Columbia at the Fair Market Rent ($743) is $14.29/hour. A worker earning minimum wage of $7.25/hour would have to work 79 hours a week, 52 weeks a year to afford this 2-bedroom apartment and utilities.
How You and Your House of Worship Can Help
· Pray for the homeless, those who care for them and those who are working to find solutions to homelessness.
· Contact LightTheWayColumbia@gmail.com to learn how your house of worship can become a Light the Way partner.
· Visit Light the Way’s website at www.LightTheWayColumbia.com to see a list of organizations that serve the homeless and learn how to donate or volunteer.
· Sponsor a service project through your house of worship or organization to benefit the homeless.