Speech: Dedication of St. Vincent DePaul food pantry
Remarks delivered at the Dedication of St. Vincent DePaul
food and shelter complex on the occasion of the annual
St. Patrick’s day ham dinner
by Crook County Judge Scott R. Cooper
March 14, 2004 , St. Joseph’s Catholic Church parish hall
In the book of Matthew, Christ teaches us,
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
Christ’s words illustrate a fundamental principal of Christian faith, the idea that we should do unto others as we would have them do unto us—a principlel which is not only Christian, but which also exists in every other major faith tradition in the World today.
The effort we undertake here today with the dedication of this facility expands and grows the opportunity to honor that principle. St. Vincent DePaul now becomes the only facility in our community offering year-round emergency food boxes and shelter to our most vulnerable citizens.
And that is a good thing, because the need for these services certainly exists here in Crook County.
The 2000 census painted an ample picture of the problem:
854 children live in poverty.
2,226 people live in poverty.
Exactly one third of the population are eligible for food stamps.
46 percent of children in the community receive free or reduced lunch.
On average, 203 food boxes are distributed monthly, feeding an average of 610 people.
Over 4,000 members of our community report some form of disability, only half of whom are employed.
Despite the fact that food destined for the tables of those who can afford it ranks as one of Oregon’s greatest exports, hundreds of thousands of Oregonians do not have adequate resources to feed themselves and their families. A recent count showed that nearly 600,000 Oregonians receive food from emergency food boxes each year. Oregon’s hunger rate is nearly twice the national average, and hunger is increasing as wages stagnate but cost of living continues to rise.
This facility comes at a most welcome time, and to those of you who have worked to make this happen, you deserve the thanks of your community, because you have taken on a task to which all of us are called, but to which few respond.
President Bush, speaking at this year’s faith-based and community-initiatives conference in Los Angeles said,
“The government can hand out money, but government can't put hope in a person's heart, or a sense of purpose in a person's life. That is done by loving individuals who spread their love. And it seems to me it makes sense for those of us who are honored to hold office to gather that strength, rally that strength, call upon that strength, and, most importantly, support that strength from the halls of government.”
The President’s philosophy is a philosophy I share. That’s why I’ve asked our Commission on Children and Families to support a faith-based initiative project in Prineville. And Brenda Comini and her group have responded, providing what assistance they can to make the St. Vincent DePaul center a reality.
What you begin formally here today is good work. It is God’s work, and it is the kind of work which only a community imbued with a spirit of care, concern and love for others can successfully undertake.
To wrap up, let’s return to the story in Matthew, which so appropriately reminds us why we are undertaking this task:
“After Jesus finished teaching the people, the crowd was perplexed. That asked him 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
“And Jesus answers, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
Thank you, God bless you and good wishes for all the success this project so richly deserves.
food and shelter complex on the occasion of the annual
St. Patrick’s day ham dinner
by Crook County Judge Scott R. Cooper
March 14, 2004 , St. Joseph’s Catholic Church parish hall
In the book of Matthew, Christ teaches us,
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
Christ’s words illustrate a fundamental principal of Christian faith, the idea that we should do unto others as we would have them do unto us—a principlel which is not only Christian, but which also exists in every other major faith tradition in the World today.
The effort we undertake here today with the dedication of this facility expands and grows the opportunity to honor that principle. St. Vincent DePaul now becomes the only facility in our community offering year-round emergency food boxes and shelter to our most vulnerable citizens.
And that is a good thing, because the need for these services certainly exists here in Crook County.
The 2000 census painted an ample picture of the problem:
854 children live in poverty.
2,226 people live in poverty.
Exactly one third of the population are eligible for food stamps.
46 percent of children in the community receive free or reduced lunch.
On average, 203 food boxes are distributed monthly, feeding an average of 610 people.
Over 4,000 members of our community report some form of disability, only half of whom are employed.
Despite the fact that food destined for the tables of those who can afford it ranks as one of Oregon’s greatest exports, hundreds of thousands of Oregonians do not have adequate resources to feed themselves and their families. A recent count showed that nearly 600,000 Oregonians receive food from emergency food boxes each year. Oregon’s hunger rate is nearly twice the national average, and hunger is increasing as wages stagnate but cost of living continues to rise.
This facility comes at a most welcome time, and to those of you who have worked to make this happen, you deserve the thanks of your community, because you have taken on a task to which all of us are called, but to which few respond.
President Bush, speaking at this year’s faith-based and community-initiatives conference in Los Angeles said,
“The government can hand out money, but government can't put hope in a person's heart, or a sense of purpose in a person's life. That is done by loving individuals who spread their love. And it seems to me it makes sense for those of us who are honored to hold office to gather that strength, rally that strength, call upon that strength, and, most importantly, support that strength from the halls of government.”
The President’s philosophy is a philosophy I share. That’s why I’ve asked our Commission on Children and Families to support a faith-based initiative project in Prineville. And Brenda Comini and her group have responded, providing what assistance they can to make the St. Vincent DePaul center a reality.
What you begin formally here today is good work. It is God’s work, and it is the kind of work which only a community imbued with a spirit of care, concern and love for others can successfully undertake.
To wrap up, let’s return to the story in Matthew, which so appropriately reminds us why we are undertaking this task:
“After Jesus finished teaching the people, the crowd was perplexed. That asked him 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
“And Jesus answers, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
Thank you, God bless you and good wishes for all the success this project so richly deserves.
posted by Scott Cooper | 11:05 AM
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