The bill went to the governor. The MSV sent another amendment.  Please contact the governor and voice your commitment to pass the bill with NO amendment.

Tiffany will drop off socks to the Riverbend school counselors to get them to the Massapponax High School “market” for homeless students.

Our next philanthropy project was discussed.

Piper brought forth Micah Ecumenical Ministries, the combined ministry and mission of 9 downtown churches, who have started the Micah Community Café.  This is a fast casual restaurant in downtown Fredericksburg.  Guests are greeted at the door with a menu and have a few choices of food items that will change week to week.  The client places and order and has a chance to make a donation, but this is not required.  This café operates on a pay-what-you-can structure and is open to anyone.  The idea is that community business people will be eating in the same café as the homeless person who slept on the street last night.  Guests receive a number, and food is brought to them by the volunteers.  Food prep is handled by our current and formerly homeless who are learning to work in a restaurant.  After completing a 5 week program, the participants have basic food-service skills, are Servesafe certified, have a reference and get assistance finding a permanent job.  With the café, all members of the community share a common space, helping to equip people with barriers to employment gain valuable experience for mainstream jobs.

$600 will sponsor an individual through the café training program.  We can designate our gift as a “Café Scholarship” and make a check out to Micah Ecumenical Ministries from the Fredericksburg VCNP.  It can be mailed to PO box 3277, Fredericksburg VA 22401.  Anyone can volunteer at Micah by calling 540-470-4116.

This was voted on and accepted by all members present as our philanthropy project for the second half of 2018.

Veltassa was presented by a nephrologist from Northern VA at Brock’s Riverside Restaurant.

Submitted 3/16/18 JPSF