Feeding the hungry and poor

As many of you know, I am in Washington D.C. right now at the "Bread for the World Leadership Training," as a Hunger Justice Leader. The purpose of this training is to help our congregations take a public and prophetic stance against ENDING HUNGER and POVERTY, both in the U.S. and in our global world community.

Yesterday, we just lobbied the Office of Public Engagement at the White House and TODAY over 300 of us will be at the Capitol for Lobby Day to ask them to create a circle of protection around funding for programs vital for hungry and poor people in the United States and around the world.

It would be amazing to have a show of solidarity TODAY if you, our members, contact your Congressional leaders and Senators today with the message below.

Help us get this important message out to Congress Today.

Rev. Allison Mark, Associate Pastor 

Dear Friends at FUMC Pasadena,

As a member of the United Methodist Church and a partner with Bread for the World, you were one of 30,000 people who told Congress that feeding hungry and poor people is not the sole responsibility of churches. About 200 Bread for the World members will personally deliver the petitions to Congress TODAY, June 12, during our Lobby Day. It’s not too late to join us!

But if you can’t join us in person, you can still participate in our virtual Lobby Day. Here’s how: Here’s how:

Call Sen. Barbara Boxer and Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Adam B. Schiff using our special toll-free number: 1-800-826-3688.

Tell them you’re a Bread for the World member.

Ask them to create a circle of protection around funding for programs vital for hungry and poor people in the United States and around the world.

Here’s what else you can say:

• Form a circle of protection around the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) as you work on the farm bill. (The Senate will vote on the farm bill this week, and the House will soon follow).
• Protect domestic and international anti-hunger and anti-poverty programs by supporting the Senate’s overall discretionary funding level for fiscal year 2013. Members of Congress agreed to this number last summer, and they must stick to this deal to prevent harmful cuts to these programs.
• Take a comprehensive approach to deficit reduction, including revenues in addition to spending cuts. Without a comprehensive deficit-reduction package that includes revenues, programs for hungry and poor people will face severe cuts.

The timing of your call and our visits to Congress couldn’t be more critical. The budget decisions before Congress this year will severely impact our efforts to end hunger and poverty. Please call Congress today at 1-800-826-3688!

Grace and Peace,

Christine Meléndez Ashley
Policy Analyst, Bread for the World

P. S. Thank you for your ongoing support to end hunger. We hope to see you in person in June 2013 as we celebrate Bread for the World’s 40 years of hard work

NOTE: Bread for the World is a non-partisan movement that believes as Christians, as we are ALL brothers and sisters in Christ, it is our responsibility to help eradicate hunger and poverty. "For unto the least of these..." (Matthew 25:40)