One could say to be in farming, you need faith in farming, faith within farming, and just faith. The U.S. Agriculture Department recognizes this and has for quite some time.
“At the turn of this century, can you believe that we had quarter all the way through the new century?”
That’s Dr. Alveda King. She’s your advisor of USDA’s Center for Faith.
“President Bush initiated something called the United States Faith Center, Faith Office, and it’s called something different in every administration, but it does exist. So every United States governmental department has an opportunity for a faith entity.”
The mission of USDA center for faith is reaching out and connecting government with nonprofit organizations, both secular and faith based, to help people in need. The main resource provided?
“We are a distribution center of information and education.”
That distribution comes through various avenues. One is webinars sponsored by the Center for faith, such as recently…
“A webinar on disasters and the hurricanes or the fires or various disasters and issues that occur.”
An event, including information on disaster assistance programs through USDA agencies.
“We call in experts from the various partnerships and agencies internally and sometimes community partners as well, are stakeholders best practices and etc.”
Other webinar topics include farm stress and rural mental health. Another method of providing information and education is through the Center’s website and newsletter.
“You have a wonderful website, USDA Faith Center, and if you google and go there, and we have a newsletter there.”
An example of info presented there…
“In the newsletter. We have a little note to mothers who are pregnant and how they can help their position.”
Dr. King says where the center receives numerous requests for partnership programming and education from various organizations and communities, outreach also plays a part in providing information.
“We have opportunities to listen and visit the various communities as well. We’ve attended the National Baptist Convention had a meeting with the Catholic community.”
One duty the center does not perform, awarding grants or loans or financial assistance. However…
“We can direct you to the right opportunity.”
And to Dr King, what makes USDA’s Center of Faith unique is a basic commonality for all, regardless of belief.
“Allow culture and apple pie, what do they have in common. Humans have to eat we do we all have to eat and do we have safe food, clean food sustainability and availability, healthy food.”