Hope in Action- How We Serve October 21, 2020

Monthly SERVE Focus – Homelessness

When I was growing up and well into adulthood, and before I began to serve alongside those experiencing homelessness, my image of a person living on the street was someone who had a drug or drinking problem and didn’t want to work. However, since I have developed relationships with and served those on the margins and learned more about the homeless problem in this country, I have come to realize that for many who are experiencing homelessness this is not a true image.   The number one reason for homelessness in this country is lack of affordable housing. In the richest county in the country, this is a huge problem. The minimum wage in the state of Virginia is $7.25. According to a 2019 study by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the average monthly cost of a two bedroom apartment in Loudoun County is $1,665. The average income needed to afford this two bedroom apartment is $66,600. That means that the number of full-time jobs at minimum wage needed to afford this two bedroom apartment is 4.4 jobs!! Nationally, on average a renter making the federal minimum wage would have to work 127 hours every single week to afford a two bedroom rental and 103 hours a week to afford a one bedroom.   The above scenarios help to illustrate the fact that even when you are employed it is extremely difficult to afford a place to come home to. COVID-19 restrictions have made it harder for hourly workers to make ends meet. If you are having trouble paying the rent or know someone who is, check out the Loudoun County Government Housing web page or Loudoun Cares for help.   October’s SERVE focus is on homelessness. Crossroads has a long history of serving those on the margins. One of our longest serving missions is DC Food & Fellowship. Each first and third Sunday for over 20 years, Crossroads has been serving meals in Franklin Park to those experiencing homelessness in Washington, DC.    Since the onset of COVID-19 in March and the closure of Franklin Park in July, Crossroads has not been able to serve our brothers and sisters in Southeast DC on a regular basis. We are partnering with the DC Downtown Day Services Center to provide hygiene kits and other essentials including coats and boots this fall.  I encourage you to participate in the Warming the Homeless – Coats and Boots drive. The details for this mission are below.

Warming the Homeless – Coats and Boots Drive Crossroads is once again gearing up for our Annual Warming the Homeless, “Coats and Boots” drive. Coats and boots will be distributed to the DC Downtown Day Services Center and the Loudoun County Homeless Shelter. You can get involved by donating new boots sizes 8-13 (we’ll need a few 14-15) as well as jackets/parkas (90% men's apparel) in LG through XXXLG. You can also make a monetary donation to Crossroads marked “Warming the Homeless” by mail or on our website. All donations are tax deductible. Coats and boots may be dropped off anytime at Crossroads Entrance 1. The deadline is October 31st. Before you serve with action, begin by going through the reflection questions that can be found here. We go inward to reflect and then we go outward to serve. Recommended Resources this Week: Living Wage – What does the United Methodist Church Say? Here’s The Hourly Wage Needed To Rent in Loudoun County  Out of Reach Additional Resources: On the brink: Homelessness on the rise in Loudoun County Homelessness in Metropolitan Washington: Results and Analysis from the Annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count of Homeless Persons The 12 Biggest Myths about Homelessness in America Top Three Causes of Homelessness in America Homeless in DC Video DC Downtown Day Services Center Video

Social Justice & Advocacy

Make Voting Plan Now – If you are unsure of how and when to vote, click here to formulate your plan of action.  If you have any questions concerning the voting process, please email Jan Wilson. Is the United Methodist Church Involved in Politics? – GET THE FACTS An Invitation from the NAACP: March to the Polls - Join the NAACP Loudoun Branch as we March to the Polls in October! Request your absentee ballot today and safely march with us to the Loudoun County Office of Elections to drop off your ballot in-person with a valid photo ID. Masks and social distancing will be in effect.  The marches will be on October 24th and 31st from 12pm-2pm. If preferred, you can march with us and vote early in-person as we encourage everyone to exercise their constitutional right to vote!   October 24th route will begin at: Loudoun Senior Center 21060 Whitfield Pl. Sterling, VA 20165 We will then march to: Loudoun County Government Office at Ridgetop 21641 Ridgetop Circle Sterling, VA 20164   October 31st route will begin at: Walmart Supercenter Parking Lot 19360 Compass Creek Pkwy Leesburg, VA 20175   We will then march to: Loudoun County Office of Elections 750 Miller Drive SE, Suite C Leesburg, VA 20175 Click here for a prayer and fasting for the election and the nation.

Belmont Enslaved Cemetery Tour – Did you know that there was a slave cemetery right here in Ashburn? Take a guided tour along the “Journey to Freedom Heritage Trail”. COVID safety requirements will be followed. Participants will meet at the cemetery at 11am, October 24th. Click here to register.

Annual Thanksgiving Day Run is Virtual! Keep your tradition streak alive and run with us on Thanksgiving Day or sometime throughout the holiday weekend! You can do so from wherever you will be spending Thanksgiving! Choose to join us at the traditional time and day - Thanksgiving Day, November 26 at 8:15 AM from your own front door and use our RaceJoy technology to "run together" with friends, and family! Or take advantage of the ability to sleep in on Thanksgiving, and choose to run anytime through the holiday weekend. November 26 - November 29! We know you struggle every year deciding if you should do the 10k, the 5k or the 2k, well this year, you can do them all! Choose to run our virtual Thanksgiving Feast challenge which offers ALL the distances! This challenge will have you working off your second (and third) helping in no time! Register here.

Taking Care of the Community

Wearing Masks - A Social Justice Issue As we have said many times before, taking care of our neighbor is the most important thing we can do as Christians. Right now, one of the easiest ways we can do that is by wearing a mask. It is simple. According to the CDC wearing a mask and social distancing are our best defenses against contracting and spreading Covid-19.   To me wearing a mask says, “I see you, you are important to me and we are in this together”.

A limited number of masks are available for pick up at Crossroads. Please email Kathy MacKrell and we will get a mask to you for free or a small donation for those who are able.

Community Resources

Loudoun County Public Schools Meal Service Walk Up Meal Service - 10:00 am – 1:00 pm Daily Bus Delivery of Breakfast and Lunch Meals throughout Loudoun County 2 Runs: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm and 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm For delivery: Please visit the interactive map to identify the nearest bus stop and associated time for mobile service. Daily breakfast and lunch meal service at 93 sites Children and teens aged 18 and younger eat FREE of charge Breakfast & lunch meals distributed simultaneously at both walk up sites and bus stops Parent meal pick up available Meal service available for childcare participants and students in attendance

Salvation Army Food Distribution at Crossroads  The Salvation Army will have a truck in the Crossroads parking lot to distribute food. Distribution is Wednesday, November 4th at 3pm the parking lot.   You will receive a FREE box of food that should feed a family of 4 for a week. We have 30 boxes to hand out so please come and get one. Please contact Kathy MacKrell if you would like to reserve a box.

Loudoun County resources are available for anyone in need of food.  Please take advantage of the following organizations: Loudoun Hunger Relief Mobile Hope Dulles South Food Pantry Catholic Charities United Way

Loudoun County Health & Human Services has provided a comprehensive list of resources available to those in need. The link is here. Contact the Loudoun County Information and Referral (I&R) program to get connected to vital health and human services information and resources in Loudoun County. The link is here. Some vital resources are highlighted below.

COVID-19 Limited Rent Assistance Loudoun County government has established a limited rent assistance program for Loudoun County households economically impacted by COVID-19. Check this link for details. Loudoun Cares Through their Information & Referral Helpline, Loudoun Cares connects residents in need with local nonprofits and agencies that can assist with a variety of health and human services that include rent/utility assistance, food, clothing, medical/dental, housing, job services and more. If you are in need of assistance, call the helpline at 703-669-4636 or click here for their website. Unemployment and Employment Resources Loudoun Workforce Resource Center provides information about unemployment benefits or other work-related topics. Click here for their website. Crossroads Jobs is a non profit experienced in advising candidates who have challenges in securing employment. Counseling is available in English and Spanish. They will also assist those who need help filing for unemployment. All services are free. Click here for their website.

Additional resources:

Sunday message: Watch here or on the GOTGo app GOTGo App - Download from your app store by searching Crossroads GOTGo Daily Texts - Text crossroads to 41411 to receive inspirational texts each day  Daily Scripture, Prayer and Morning Focus - Sign up here Online giving: Sign up or submit giving here Spiritual Practices: Find them here Prayer Requests: Submit them here Imagine Well Being - Find online groups here Small Groups: Find online groups here Facebook - facebook.com/crossroadsnova Instagram - instagram.com/crossroadsnova Website - crossroadsnova.org