Sure, I'm good with others' dilemmas, but now I have my own. If I bought meat, this would be a no brainer.

 But I don't.

 SHARE Colorado offers produce-only boxes. THey are  very close to my home, but administered by the catholic church.

I am usually reluctant to support obviously Xtian businesses (I have exceptions such as Bragg's, but generally if there's a fish or Xtian verse on the label or advertising, nope).

 I know that putting my money into this program could be used for prosteltyzing activities, BUT it also supports more food charity.

I sort of (in my justifying way) want to look at that as tzedekah. I would be volunteering  at the site (again, close to my home)

I'm not seeing this a s a kashrut issue, but more a what am I supporting issue.

I do know if it was at a messianic building I'd say no way. But we know the CC is xtian. it isn't hiding.

Deb, What would you do? How do you see it?

I know you were not talking to me but......I would think that the SHARE program would be separate and that funds collected would not go for prosteltyzing. You could always ask if all moneys collected go soley to the program. I have never done anything with SHARE but I did work for a short time with a food bank in a Baptist Church. The food bank had its own seperate budget. Money donated to the food bank did not go to the church and its functions, hopefully SHARE is set up the same way.

I did find this at their website:

"SHARE does not place its focus on changing people nor does it attempt to win people over or reject them if they don't fit in. SHARE is inclusive - SHARE is building our community by working together"

Dear Truepeacenik, I, too, would have a problem with certain faith-based charities -- teh Salvation Army, I would point out.  But lots of people use Roman Catholic hospitals & schools for reasons that have nothing to do with religion.  For example, busy91 told us in the "Demand for Food Pantry Groceries & Food Stamps Running High" thread that NYC public schools are so dangerous that she has to send her kids to Catholic schools.

I wear Star of David earrings at all times.  I live in a Muslim neighborhood, but I've never excited interest.  (Just Jews compliment me on them.)  If I were you, I'd go to SHARE wearing Jewish-based jewelry to be right up-front about your beliefs.

Love in Him, Deb

 that sounds like a grand idea.I have a necklace I refer to as my Throwing Star of David, as I ordered what Ithought was 2.5 cm (as I was ordering from Israel) but turned out to be 2.5 inches.

 Nothing subtle about that necklace.

Our schools here had a gee I'm silly moment when they decided that pentacles (pagan, Wiccan) were gang symbols. They banned the wearing of them (but not crosses or crucifixes, which both show in gang tattooing here). That issue of allowing faith A but not B is one issue, but they cannot count, either. my son was placed in detention for a Star of David.

I had a chat with the principal and after I said things like  Constitution,  equity, and "my friend at ACLU," the bans were dropped and my son got a real apology. hee hee.

Dear Truepeacenik, I'm so glad that the school LISTENED to you!  Love in Him, Deb

 Members of our community (Wiccan and Pagan) sometimes have issues with wearing their pentacles, too, and we use the same words "constitution", "ACLU", etc. to resolve the matter.   It took SEVENTEEN YEARS for us to be allowed to bury our soldiers under the pentacle in military cemetaries (usually getting a symbol approved is a matter of 6-8 months).  Ridiculous!  Especially if you serve our country, I feel that if you want to be buried under the symbol of a lunchbox or Hello Kitty or WHATEVER, it should be respected.

I've gotten very careful about what thrift shops and charity shops I go to in recent years; my favorite right now is a charity shop that helps new young families with new babies.  No religion involved, and they're doing something I understand.   I avoid the ones that have a history of preaching hate against minority religions.

I love DeborahMichelle's idea of wearing overt jewelry.  It gets the question out of the way right up front, as it were.

I feel very lucky to live in a very tolerant part of the country.  (Well, tolerant may not be the word--mostly people don't care!  ).  

Dear Kate, In what State do you live? I've always believed that CA -- while it has pockets of hate such as in Orange County (Disneyland county) -- is the most tolerant State going.  Yours in Him, Deb

 DeborahMichelle, I live in New Hampshire.  We were the first state to pass a civil union law WITHOUT it being the result of a lawsuit of some kind.  I was so proud of my little state!  They looked at it and said "equal rights?  Well, of course!"  We're looking at a full gay marriage law now, and I think it will pass. 

By unofficial survey, NH and New England in general have one of the higher percentage of Pagans in the country, because here people don't get persecuted for it.  We have our crazies like anyone else, who spew hatred and torment for anyone "not like them" but they are in the FAR minority, and the rest of the population thinks they're awful.   I think this is part of the "manners" of the region--it's impolite to barge in on anyone's life, whether they're a minority religion, color, creed, sexuality or anything else.   I've been out with Jewish friends--they with a Star of David necklace, and me with a pentacle--and the only reaction we get is "what a pretty necklace!"

I love my home, and it's nice to be able to be proud of it, too. 

Dear Kate, Is New Hampshire the State whose license plates read, "Live Free or Die"?  Sounds like it could be.  I'd be proud to live in a State like that -- but the Winters would do me in!  Yours in Him, Deb

 That's us!  Live Free or Die!  And we take it pretty seriously.   

I will be honest, the winters almost do me in sometimes, too.   Even though I've lived in New England my whole life.   It's starting to warm up now, and it's about time--I was about to go bughouse.