wfn.org | Newsline: Domestic Hunger Matching Grant Program Raises $117,000

[cobnews <cobnews@brethren.org>]

Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service -- Feb. 12, 2009
Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, News Director
800-323-8039 ext. 260 -- cobnews@brethren.org

DOMESTIC HUNGER MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM RAISES $117,000

(Feb. 12, 2009) Elgin, IL -- Two Church of the Brethren funds are requestin g second allocations for a new "Domestic Hunger Matching Grant" program fol lowing a report that the original grant amount of $50,000 has been complete ly disbursed--and applications from congregations are still coming in.

The money allocated for matching grants has been fully expended to the firs t 121 congregations that applied. These congregations themselves have contr ibuted $67,000 to local food programs across the country. With the matching  grants it means the Church of the Brethren denomination and the 121 congre gations have raised $117,000 for food assistance in local communities durin g the first five weeks of this year.

The "Domestic Hunger Matching Grant" program encourages Brethren congregati ons to make a special effort this winter to support the needs of food pantr ies and soup kitchens through matching grants of up to $500 for a gift to o ne local hunger program. It is sponsored jointly by the Global Food Crisis  Fund and the Emergency Disaster Fund, in partnership with the denomination' s Stewardship department.

Staff originally projected a goal of involving 100 congregations. As of tod ay, 121 congregations have taken part, and 22 more are on a waiting list fo r matching grants.

Additional allocations are being requested to continue the program as long  as funds are available. If the new allocations are approved by the denomina tion's board, the two funds will give a total of $87,500 for matching grant s with congregations.

To qualify, a congregation must raise new funds for the food crisis, fill o ut and return an application form, and enclose a copy of the check it write s to the food bank or soup kitchen. Matching checks will be issued in the c harity's name and mailed to the requesting congregation for forwarding to t he local organization. Go to www.brethren.org/site/DocServer/Domestic_Hunge r_cong_ap_January_2009.pdf?docID=1001 for the application form. For more  information contact Justin Barrett in the Global Mission Partnerships offic e at 800-323-8039 ext. 230.

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to continu ing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its faith in  community. The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith t raditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrated it s 300th anniversary in 2008. It counts more than 125,000 members across the  United States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Nig eria, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and India.

># # #

>For more information contact:

>Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
>Director of News Services
>Church of the Brethren
>1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120
>800-323-8039 ext. 260
>cobnews@brethren.org