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STEPH CURRY PROJECT | CONVERSATION: INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST p. 5
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SPRING 2020
330 S. Patterson Avenue, Springfield, MO 65802 Hope Quarterly is published by Convoy of Hope. Published: Spring 2020 Š2020 Convoy of Hope
Editor-in-Chief | Roger Flessing Managing Editor | Levi Costello Content Editors | Lindsay Donaldson-Kring & Morgan Mills Senior Reporter | Jess Heugel Photographers | Keagon Doyle, Christian Lamb & Nikki Simmons Contributors | Jessica Blake, Clint Carlton, Dr. Steven Daugherty, Scott Howard, Becky Kyle & Lisa Seaton Creative Director | Josh Carter Designers | Aaron Davis & Misty Olivera
Board of Directors Brad Rosenberg, Court Durkalski, Brad Trask, Scott Howard, Dr. Tom Carter, Dr. Aaron Cole, David Cribbs, Dominick Garcia, Nick Garza, Dr. Sam Huddleston, Randy Hurst, Cheryl Jamison, Telvin Jeffries, Klayton Ko, Kay Logsdon, Sherilynn Tounger, Dishan Wickramaratne, Kirk Yamaguchi, and Hal Donaldson (President)
Feedback | editor@convoyofhope.org Website | convoyofhope.org Twitter | @convoyofhope Facebook | /convoyofhope Postmaster | Send address changes to: Hope Quarterly 330 S. Patterson Avenue, Springfield, MO 65802
On the Cover: Convoy of Hope volunteers in Florida pack bags of groceries for distribution in communities affected by COVID-19. Photographer: Christ Fellowship Church
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FROM THE PRESIDENT
You Are Not Alone These certainly are unprecedented times. Yet, as we face the unknown and grapple with unexpected challenges, we also can see the best in humanity. Community members have rallied to support neighbors; churches have turned their sanctuaries into food banks and their parking lots into drivethrus; corporations have shifted operations to manufacture products emergency workers so desperately need. Hope has persisted. Convoy of Hope, like any other organization, has not been immune to the challenges brought on by the pandemic. We have worked hard to follow CDC recommendations and to protect all members of our team, all while prioritizing the continuation of our life-saving work around the world. We ask that you continue to pray for our staff and volunteers as they work on the frontlines, delivering hope where it is needed most. We know families are struggling. Jobs have been lost, schools have closed, and uncertainty permeates our daily lives.
Recently, we launched 10 Million Meals: A COVID-19 Response, through which we’re now aiming to distribute more than 10 million meals to those hit hard by the coronavirus in the United States. As with every other crisis response, we will do all we can for as long as we can. I’ve been so inspired by the generosity of corporate partners, churches, and individuals as we’ve embarked on a mission to give people help and hope. Please know, wherever you are and whatever you are facing, you are not alone. We are standing with you and so are many others. I believe now, more than ever, we have the opportunity to choose hope. We will get through this, together. Sincerely,
Hal Donaldson President
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CONVOY NEWS
Photo Credit: Christ Fellowship Church, West Palm Beach, Florida
‘10 Million Meals’ Initiative Hits Major Milestone In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Convoy of Hope has delivered more than 10 million meals across the U.S. But the need is so great, we’re going to keep our trucks rolling. We’re going far beyond 10 million. “This is a united act of compassion,” said Hal Donaldson, President of Convoy of Hope. “Churches, businesses, civic organizations,
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and local governments are coming together to help children and families get through this difficult period. Like our response to any major disaster or crisis, we intend to do as much as we can for as long as we can.” Multiple trucks continue to leave Convoy of Hope’s World Distribution Center daily, delivering hope to vulnerable communities across the nation. Thanks to the generosity of partners and donors, we’ve also distributed masks to hospitals, helped parents who are struggling to feed their children, and provided hope to many more in need.
CONVOY NEWS
Steph Curry’s ‘Jump Shot’ Benefits Convoy of Hope In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, the release of Executive Producer Stephen Curry’s award-winning film was a welcome distraction. “Jump Shot: The Kenny Sailor Story” was released April 16, and 10% of the proceeds benefited Convoy of Hope’s “10 Million Meals” initiative. The film celebrates the true story of Kenny Sailors, a basketball legend who introduced the jump shot.
Churchome Gives $1 Million to Feed Families Churchome — a thriving multi-site church pastored by Judah and Chelsea Smith and based in Kirkland, Washington — donated $1 million to Convoy of Hope’s COVID-19 response. “What we know for certain is that there is a real need for food right now, for people in our communities and across the country,” said David Kroll, CEO of Churchome. “We are incredibly excited to partner with Convoy of Hope to meet that need. Their vision to give away 10 million meals during this pandemic is going to make a huge impact, and it is our privilege to partner with them to provide more than 1 million of those meals.” 5
CONVOY NEWS Photo Credit: Jonathan & Natalie Stewart
Pro Athletes Reach Out During Pandemic Professional athletes used their platforms and influence to partner with Convoy of Hope during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jonathan Stewart and Steve Smith, both former members of the Carolina Panthers football team, hosted a fundraiser that sponsored a truckload of food and supplies. Those resources were sent to North Carolina. Jonathan and his wife, Natalie, also volunteered to help distribute food and supplies in Charlotte, in part with Elevation Church. Paul Goldschmidt, first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals, partnered with Convoy of Hope to provide meals, water, and emergency supplies to help those in the St. Louis area most affected by the coronavirus.
NASCAR Drivers Sponsor Truckloads Several NASCAR drivers have teamed up with Convoy of Hope to provide much needed supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ty Dillon (left) and Joey Logano (right) — who drive for Germain Racing and Penske Racing, respectively — each partnered with Convoy of Hope to provide food and supplies to help us reach our “10 Million Meals” goal. Through these new partnerships, Convoy of Hope will distribute food and supplies at different racetracks around the nation.
International Feeding Programs Continue Despite COVID-19 All 18 countries where Convoy of Hope has ongoing feeding programs have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Nevertheless, the feeding of 300,00 children and helping mothers and farmers continues. By taking strict precautions and using technology, our teams are working hard to ensure needs are met. 6
CONVOY NEWS
Online Benefit Concert Supports Convoy of Hope Australian Christian music duo for KING & COUNTRY held an online concert called TOGETHER: A Night of Hope. The event featured numerous appearances from artists and celebrities, such as Kathie Lee Gifford and Kirk Franklin. Members of the band all played and sang simultaneously from their own separate homes. “We’re not only reaching out to different homes around Nashville,” said singer Joel David Smallbone, “but we’re going to be reaching out around America and around the globe … to connect with friends, even though we’re in this isolation and [time of] physical distance.” Proceeds from the concert benefitted Convoy of Hope’s “10 Million Meals” initiative.
Bass Pro Shops Partners to Distribute Masks Convoy of Hope teamed up with Bass Pro Shops and its founder, Johnny Morris, to deliver 1 million face masks to healthcare workers in more than 200 communities across the nation. “The generosity of Johnny Morris will make a significant impact in the battle against coronavirus across North America,” said Jeff Nene, National Spokesperson for Convoy of Hope. “At a time when our healthcare workers are being pushed to the limit physically and emotionally, we’re grateful for partners like Johnny and his incredible team.” 7
in uncertain times
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FEATURE
By Levi Costello Reporting by Jess Heugel
hen a city employee of Riviera Beach, Florida, died from COVID-19, coworkers had to be quarantined. The tragedy sent shock waves through a community already reeling from the economic downturn and lack of food and supplies. Understandably, residents were unprepared for a global pandemic.
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“A hurricane is a hurricane: you prep for it, you have two days to be in your house, and then you deal with the aftermath,” says Becky Kyle at nearby Christ Fellowship Church in West Palm Beach, Florida. “Whereas with this … this is long-term and it affects everyone.”
In the Midwest, families are also struggling for solutions. “The need is overwhelming,” says Lisa Seaton, who is helping coordinate the response at City First Church in Rockford, Illinois. The West Coast has also been adversely affected. When the State of California closed classrooms, it also shut down school lunch programs. Clint Carlton, of the Los Angeles Dream Center, says, “When that happened, we knew people were going to need food.” One community after another has felt the pain of the pandemic. As a result, Convoy of Hope has fielded requests for truckloads of food from 1,000 communities in 46 states.
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FEATURE
“Urgent requests have been pouring in,” says Erick Meier, Convoy of Hope’s Vice President of Supply Chain. “We knew we had to respond quickly in a big way.” After Convoy of Hope announced a “10 Million Meals” initiative in March, the Disaster Services and Supply Chain teams sprang into action. The goal was to deliver 10 million meals to families hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis. Six weeks later, that mission was accomplished. Today, Convoy of Hope trucks continue crisscrossing the nation, delivering millions of meals to people in need. “We’re grateful to all the churches, corporations, individuals and civic organizations that are making this effort possible,” says Convoy of Hope President Hal Donaldson. “The need is so great that we’re going to keep our trucks rolling and go far beyond 10 million meals.”
Church parking lots
Churches across America turned their parking lots into distribution sites, including Christ Fellowship Church.
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They established a large food distribution in nearby Riviera Beach with the help of the local police department. “When we were driving around with the police officers, we happened to see two kids playing together,” says Kyle. “So we handed them a bag of groceries. With a big smile on their faces, they started jumping up and down, saying, ‘Thank you so much!’” Like many churches, Christ Fellowship distributed food and supplies to foster homes, senior-care facilities, community centers, and more in Riviera Beach. “The toilet paper we distributed was like gold,” Kyle says.
Lines of cars
Using a contactless drivethru distribution model, City First Church in Rockford conducted a massive food distribution. The line of cars grew to 2 miles long. Convoy of Hope sent a truck filled with canned goods, breakfast cereals, pasta, baby formula, diapers, baby wipes, and more. The church also procured local fresh-food donations. continued on page 14
Photo Credit: Emmanuel Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Where We’ve Served
Together We’ve Delivered 10 Million Meals!
Map Key Location of major outbreaks Larger dots indicate a larger outbreak.
Information gathered from The New York Times.
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Photo Credit: Passion City Church, Atlanta, Georgia
FEATURE
continued from page 10
“The groceries were gone in 150 minutes,” Seaton says. “It went so fast. There’s not a lot of good news right now, and the outreach was something that was good news for a whole community. It was just like an infusion of hope for our city.”
Food banks
The Los Angeles Dream Center, which operates a large food bank, responded to the COVID-19 crisis by offering drive-thru
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service. Cars lined up from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. to receive diapers, boxed food, produce, and hot meals.
in Los Angeles don’t see light at the end of the tunnel yet. So we need to provide hope and calm in the chaos.”
“We got a whole pallet of spaghetti from Convoy of Hope,” Carlton says, “so we were able to provide 13,000 hot meals.” To date, the Los Angeles Dream Center has provided more than 400,000 meals.
From New York to Seattle and Los Angeles to Florida, Convoy of Hope’s fleet of semi-trucks are delivering millions of meals and lots of hope. “The lines of cars at our distribution sites continue to grow, so we can’t stop now,” says Donaldson. “As long as people have real needs, we have to keep going. That’s what Convoy of Hope is all about.”
“This is hope food,” Carlton says. “Convoy of Hope is one of the big reasons we’ve been able to do that. People
JOIN THE CONVOY
GO ON A TRIP
We’re currently following governmental guidelines regarding travel, which means we’ve had to temporarily postpone Field Team trips. When travel opens again, even more help will be needed to show the world “Hope Works.” Email teams@convoyofhope.org to learn more about how your group can make a lasting impact by working with Convoy of Hope in the field. Be sure to check out convoyofhope.org/teams for upcoming opportunities.
Service areas include:
Togo The Bahamas Wichita, Kansas Iberia, Missouri Keshena, Wisconsin Puerto Rico
Nicaragua Spain Honduras Mississippi Delta Region Appalachia Region Rockaway Beach, Missouri
Other communities across rural America
STILL SERVING YOU
In order to better serve communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, Community Events has decided to change its format to a point of distribution (POD) model. All events already planned for this year have either been rescheduled for a future date or will be changed to follow the POD model. We’re working with the leadership in every city to make the best decision for each location. Listed below are the cities we plan to serve in 2020:
Beckley, West Virginia
Kansas City, Missouri
Chicago, Illinois
Lafayette, Indiana
Cleveland, Ohio
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Des Moines, Iowa
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Detroit, Michigan
Wichita, Kansas
Evansville, Indiana
Yuma, Arizona
Grand Junction, Colorado
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ONVOY: What’s unique about the coronavirus, and why is it so dangerous? DR. DAUGHERTY: This virus has been in the mammal
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population, probably in bats, for a while. When it transferred from bats to humans, it found a whole new population which had no way of fighting it off. So this virus is not necessarily new ... it’s just new to us.
And that’s what makes this illness a pandemic instead of an epidemic. Pandemics occur when you have a large proportion of the population susceptible to the disease. Nobody has immunity, so the virus can go unchecked.
Q&A
One hundred days ago, few had heard of the virus. Its ability to move from China around the world is impressive. It’s important to understand that half the population could have the infection by the end of the year. The only thing that will prevent that is an effective vaccine. And that may not happen until the end of 2021. We may not change the total number of cases, but through social distancing and other precautions, we change the duration over which the majority of cases are spread (6 weeks, 6 months, or 12 months, for example). CONVOY: Are there additional precautions people can be taking? DR. DAUGHERTY: Yes. This virus can only get in your body one of three ways: through your eyes, nose, or mouth. That’s it. It does not get in through your skin. With masks, even if they're not high-filtration masks, if they keep you from touching your nose and your mouth, they serve as a barrier. If you can just keep from touching your face, then your risk is [minimal]. CONVOY: What signs should we look for before letting our guard down?
Dr. Steven Daugherty is a clinical physician in Southern Missouri, with more than 20 years of experience with infectious diseases. He is a friend and supporter of Convoy of Hope and recently answered questions regarding COVID-19.
DR. DAUGHERTY: This is going to take months. We’re not going to see the end until there are enough people who’ve already had it and have immunity. It’s going to take its toll on patients physically, emotionally, and financially. It’s also going to have a huge impact on health care workers. We will get through this. It’s just going to take longer than most people are hearing, but we will get through it. It is possible that under ideal circumstances, things could look different in the fall.
Kind people need to think this way: I’m taking precautions for my neighbor.
Most people who contract the virus will weather it well, and probably say afterward, “You know, I’ve had worse flu episodes than that. What’s the big deal?” That may be the case, but please understand — you don’t want to give it to your 70-year-old neighbor or grandparents, because they won’t weather it as well.
The stress of joblessness and even short-term disability will be felt for months to come. We can and should meet the needs of our neighbors — tending to their physical health needs, empty pantries, or the spiritual and emotional support that will carry them through. With God’s help, we will get through this.
CONVOY: Convoy of Hope and our partners are focusing our resources on providing food to areas hit hard by COVID-19. Can you speak to the importance of that effort? DAUGHERTY: The damage already done by the virus to communities, and especially families, is enormous.
Convoy of Hope is not a health organization. The views expressed here are those of the person interviewed. Please follow CDC recommendations and seek the advice of licensed medical professionals.
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LEARN ABOUT CONVOY
Women’s Empowerment
When women are given the opportunity to generate income, it impacts the economic standing of their families and communities. We partner with women to help develop sustainable resources which they can leverage to make more strategic, independent life choices.
Children’s Feeding
A nutritious meal opens doors to providing children and their families with education, job and agriculture training, a sense of hope, and greater opportunities. We believe children are essential members of their communities. As future leaders, they’ll have the opportunity to one day bring positive change to their countries by breaking the cycles of poverty and hunger. We use regular meals in schools as a starting point to build and support thriving communities.
Agriculture
Food security transforms communities by lifting people out of dependence on others for their daily sustenance. Through our Agriculture program, we equip vulnerable farmers and their families with the skills, tools, and seeds to produce lifesustaining crops. Local farmers harvest many meals each year for our Children’s Feeding program, which simultaneously generates income for them.
Disaster Services
Convoy of Hope’s Disaster Services team is consistently among the first to respond to disasters at home and around the world. Highly regarded for our scalable response and distribution model, we utilize our eight international warehouses, four domestic warehouses, a specialized disaster response fleet, and a highly-trained team of staff and volunteers to respond to disasters quickly and effectively.
Rural Compassion Initiative
Poverty and hunger have gained a devastating edge in America’s rural communities. Through this initiative, we resource, empower, and partner with rural churches through training, mentoring, and coaching. We believe their increased presence and partnership with local leaders help strengthen and enrich their communities.
Community Events
Communities are the heart of counties, states, and nations. Convoy of Hope is committed to working with local volunteers, businesses, agencies, churches, and organizations who believe in building stronger communities through generosity and kindness. At our Community Events, we partner with such entities to provide free groceries, health and dental screenings, haircuts, family portraits, veterans services, hot meals, career service training, and much more to those who may not have the means to access these resources themselves.
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PLANNED GIVING
Convoy of Hope Innovator’s DAF
By Mary Vogen
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cott Howard’s life took a dramatic turn last fall. Immediately after returning from a Convoy of Hope board meeting, he was hospitalized due to unexplained blood loss. The tests came back, and he discovered he not only had a severe bleeding ulcer but his cancer had returned. He began chemotherapy treatments right away. But, even in the midst of these complications and hardships, Scott finds ways to give back. “While I was in the hospital, I received a call from Convoy of Hope asking if the food bank affiliated with our church would want to take thousands of frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches,” he recalls. “Getting that call fulfilled one of my life goals of reaching people positively, even while I was very weak and in the hospital.” Scott also promotes giving as the owner of a business. “One of the most exciting things I’ve been involved with is seeing my employees get involved through One Day to Feed the World and feedONE,” he says.
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“Over eight weeks, our employees chose to give 1 hour of their salary per week through a payroll deduction. Watching them give and get involved as a group was incredibly exciting.” Scott’s relationship with Convoy of Hope was born out of a very personal experience. “After the earthquake in Haiti, someone at Convoy asked me if I wanted to join him to see where Convoy was doing disaster relief and development. During that trip, God gave me a heart of compassion.” But it was his experience in business that led him into a deeper connection with Convoy of Hope. “As a businessman, I look at financials. I also look at other sources like Charity Navigator for their rating of the organization and membership in ECFA.” And it’s because of those meaningful experiences that Scott and his wife, Janet, opened
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a donor advised fund (DAF) with Convoy of Hope. “Convoy of Hope’s DAF is an incredible tool for high-net-worth individuals or families to give through, but many people have not heard about it. It’s a great way to give without the cost and hassle of a private family foundation.” Scott continues to serve through Convoy of Hope and his community in the midst of his battle with cancer. We are thankful for his encouragement, leadership, and courage in giving generously, even in personal times of crisis.
The Convoy of Hope Foundation has innovative giving strategies and resources to assist you and your family. Contact Convoy of Hope Global Strategist Mary Vogen at mvogen@convoyofhope.org if you would like more information about Convoy of Hope’s donor advised fund or other ways to give.
“Getting that call fulfilled one of my life goals of reaching people positively, even while I was very weak and in the hospital.� -Scott Howard 23
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