Interfaith Federation
of Greater Baton Rouge


Hands for Change

Hands for Change
  • Louisiana Statistics*
  • (from Children's Defense Fund, Nov. 2008)

    A child is born into poverty every 30 minutes.

    A child is abused or neglected every 42 minutes.

    A child dies before his or her first birthday every 14 hours.

    A child or teen is killed by gunfire every 4 days.

    Number of poor children (and percent poor) 283,350 (26.8%)

    Number of children living in extreme poverty (and percent in extreme poverty) 124,373 (11.7%)

    *   Federal Poverty Guidelines are calculated annually by Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS)

    *   2008 Poverty Guideline for a family of 4: $21,200 annual income

    *   2008 Extreme Poverty Guideline for a family of 4: $10,600 (50% of Poverty Guideline)

Hands for Change Poverty Initiative


The Interfaith Federation of Greater Baton Rouge is committed to the following goal established by the Louisiana Child Poverty Prevention Council:

To reduce the number of children living in poverty in Louisiana by 50% by 2018.
This will remain a lofty goal unless individuals in our community use their own personal realm of influence to make a difference -- beginning today.



Need & Population to Serve

The Louisiana Statistics listed in the box to the right are staggering.

It may be tempting to turn away from the sights, sounds, and smells of poverty in our community, but that does not change the reality.   That is particularly true for children -- those born into situations of which they do not control nor seek.

The need is compelling.  The issues of poverty are complex and overwhelming.

The Interfaith Federation is committed to encouraging, inviting, and partnering with others to reduce the number of children living in poverty in our community.



Vision

The plan is simple.

What if each of us committed to doing five things to reduce the number of children living in poverty?  Each of us has a unique realm of influence.  An elected official, a public school teacher, a grandmother, a CEO, or a teenager all have different opportunities; but each can make a difference.

Imagine how this vision might spread in the community.  Imagine inviting and challenging people to reflect on their realm of influence, and then make a commitment do five things in the coming year to reduce the number of children living in poverty.

Five things.   One task for each finger on our hand.

Together we can make a difference.