The designation provides custom-tailored technical support and guided access to additional resources that would foster hope and opportunity, wealth creation, and asset building, as stated by the USDA, Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement.
"We are grateful for the leadership of Ivanka Trump, Pastor Paula White, Office of Faith and Opportunity Initiatives and Secretary Sonny Perdue, USDA for assisting families living in the ˜Last Mile of Need', said Dave Donaldson, Co-Founder of CityServe. œIt's important to us that we have this level of support so we can continue to see lasting change in our communities.
The designation expresses USDA's belief in CityServe's passion and ability to engage churches for a positive impact on families. The support reinforces efforts in Bakersfield and Little Rock, and CityServe's capabilities to improve and enrich these communities through a network of churches.
Most recently, CityServe has helped to create the Faith-Based Community for Farmers to Families, an expansive network of organizations and churches mobilized to distribute USDA Farmers to Families food boxes of produce and poultry to families impacted by the pandemic crisis. To date, over 1 million food boxes have been committed to the network by approved USDA suppliers. Presently, food boxes are being distributed through the network to under-resourced neighborhoods.
About CityServe
CityServe is a collaborative network of churches and community leaders connected to overcome brokenness. CityServe empowers the local church to fulfill its purpose to overcome brokenness and transform lives by resourcing them with tangible goods and capacity building. CityServe engages the church to address community challenges and deliver solutions through the œLast Mile of Need”in the homes and lives of the most vulnerable in the community. Since launching in 2018, CityServe has resourced church PODs (point of distribution) within the network with approximately $34.4 million worth of food, apparel, and household items so churches can engage in their communities and fulfill a variety of tangible needs.
For more information about CityServe and its initiatives, please visit http://www.cityserve.us. Follow CityServe on Instagram and Facebook: @cityservehq
Source: http://www.prweb.com/releases/cityserve_bakersfield_and_cityserve_arkansas_designated_as_community_of_faith_and_opportunity_by_united_states_department_of_agriculture/prweb17164362.htm
