Churches Recommit to Ending Hunger

Bread for the World
Wednesday, 25 October 2000

Half a million Christians celebrate Bread for the World Sunday

WASHINGTON - On the eve of the elections, churches across the country are turning attention to the problem of hunger in the United States and around the world. In celebration of Bread for the World Sunday on Oct. 29, half a million U.S. Christians will rededicate their efforts to end hunger by calling on elected officials to make cutting hunger a priority.

"Despite persistent hunger in the United States and around the world, hunger has not been an election issue," said Bread for the World President David Beckmann. "But hunger is one problem we could actually solve. We must get our government must do its part."

Nearly 800 million people worldwide still go hungry. In the United States, 31 million people, including 12 million children, live in households that still struggle to get the food they need.

On Bread for the World Sunday, celebrated Oct. 29 and other Sundays in October, churchgoers from many denominations participate in services that focus on the problem of hunger. Last year, more than 85,000 people shared in Bread for the World Sunday events; this year nearly 500,000 are expected. Many of the churches involved regularly write letters to their members of Congress in support of anti-hunger legislation. With the approaching elections, participants will also be paying attention to the priority their elected officials give to issues of hunger and poverty.

"Christians across the country want legislators to hear their call on behalf of those who are hungry," said Beckmann. "Hunger is not a partisan issue. Our society is weakened when we put up with widespread hunger, and together, Republicans, Democrats and Independents can truly make a difference. "

Legislation like the bipartisan Hunger Relief Act and the Jubilee campaign for international debt relief are two recent examples of how members of political parties can work together to cut hunger, said Beckmann. In the past two years, Bread for the World members generated more than 250,000 letters to Congress in support of these measures.

For more information, or to contact Bread for the World, see their website at: www.bread.org