As if being a school nurse wasn’t enough, Ruth Ann Farthing’s idea of healing stretches way beyond the scope of sick kids. In her “spare time,” she volunteers for justice causes in the community. she has written letters to the newspaper, attended health care rallies, and canvassed neighborhoods to get people registered to vote and to deliver information about elections and confusing political issues.
Her specialty, though, is in organizing people to work together on important social causes. With her Justice Ministry Team at North Congregational United Church of Christ, she and her team ask others to be a part of their Justice Ministry Network and its BREAD program (Building Responsibility, Equality, And Dignity). BREAD calls upon people of faith to act effectively on solving local community problems, such as vacant and abandoned housing and access to healthcare. Other action plans the group has put into motion include a
comprehensive truancy reduction plan, strengthening the Franklin County Drug Court program, and lowering the interest rate on payday loans.
Ruth Ann’s passion for social work started early. In high school, she was involved in social service clubs that frequently participated with real social agencies. More recently, she was motivated by friend and mentor, Arlene Reynolds – who has a life-long history of working for social causes – to continue and strengthen her volunteerism. Citing her sister, Jeanne, and her family as major sources of inspiration, Ruth Ann says she is most inspired by “being in a community with people who believe and act on the belief that we are called to love our neighbors as we lover ourselves.”
To find out more about BREAD, visit: breadcolumbus.org ▪