In early 2007, after noticing many unhoused members of the community congregating near the church, former FUMC Salinas pastor Jim Luther made a crockpot of chili and heated up hot dogs to feed the hungry assembled there. Five days a week, folks working in the church office would hand out food to some 25 people waiting outside. The number of guests hoping for a warm meal continued to grow. Soon, Pastor Luther encouraged church leaders to consider adopting a mission of feeding the hungry. The congregation embraced the outreach.
FREE SPEECHTwo years ago, on Aug. 15 2021, the United States withdrew from Afghanistan and the Taliban retook control of the government. They promised this time would be different than
Jewish community leaders say there are no known reports of antisemitism in Monterey or Santa Cruz County, but Central Coast synagogues still plan to take action.