wfn.org | ELCA Hunger Leaders Consider Fund Goals, Food Bank Issues

[NEWS <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

July 1, 1999

ELCA HUNGER LEADERS CONSIDER FUND GOALS, FOOD BANK ISSUES
99-169-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- About 150 local leaders involved in the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) World Hunger Program met
at North Park University here June 24-27.  They discussed creative ways
to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the World Hunger Appeal, the
program's fund-raising arm, and considered a challenge to double to $25
million members' contributions to the church's work to alleviate hunger.
     The ELCA World Hunger Program is designed to help  people help
themselves through emergency relief and long-term development in the
United States and around the world. Its partners include Lutheran World
Relief, an organization that works in overseas development and relief on
behalf of the ELCA and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and the
Lutheran World Federation, a global communion of 128 Lutheran churches.
The ELCA is a member of the LWF.  Ten percent of the hunger program
monies are used for hunger education and hunger advocacy in the United
States.
     In 1998 the ELCA World Hunger Appeal raised $12.55 million,
exceeding the 1998 goal by more than $600,000, said Lita Brusick
Johnson, appeal director. The 1999 goal is $12.6 million, she said.
     "There is good news to report," she told the conference
participants, representing 55 of the ELCA's 65 synods. "Income for the
World Hunger Appeal is about $500,000 ahead of budget this year."
International events, such as the movement of refugees in and out of
Kosovo and Hurricane Mitch in Central America, have led to increased
giving, she said.
     In addition to regular giving to the World Hunger Appeal, gifts to
date for Hurricane Mitch relief total $2.6 million and $1.5 million for
Kosovo relief, Johnson said.
     Earlier this year, ELCA bishops meeting in Tucson, Ariz., adopted
a resolution
urging the church to renew its commitment to the ELCA World Hunger
Appeal and pledged collectively to increase their own giving to the
appeal by at least $25,000.  The bishops' resolution also called on the
ELCA "to set a goal of $25 million as a sign of renewed commitment and
urgency" for the appeal.
     The 1999 Churchwide Assembly will vote on a resolution to meet the
goal in the next four to five years, Johnson said.  She proposed a plan
to work toward the goal.  The plan calls on every ELCA congregation to
have a contact person for the hunger program, for each synod to have
annual goals to boost giving, and a greater effort to "intensify" major
gift giving.
     "Everything we're doing is moving toward the building of this
(hunger relief) movement in the next 25 years," said the Rev. John L.
Halvorson, coordinator of the ELCA World Hunger Program.  "The most
important thing we can do this year is to say thanks.  Thanks to God,
thanks to the church and thanks to you."
     A resolution emphasizing thanks and recommitment to the World
Hunger Appeal will be presented to the 1999 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in
Denver this summer, Halvorson said.  It calls on the church to commit
itself to continue "walking with the poor" through the World Hunger
Appeal, and it calls for the ELCA to double "annual income raised
through the appeal within the next five years."  The assembly will also
celebrate the World Hunger Appeal's 25th anniversary.
     The assembly resolution proposes that congregations take part in a
"third mile" giving campaign this fall.  From Nov. 1 to Nov. 25, every
ELCA congregation will be encouraged to make additional commitments to
the World Hunger Appeal as part of the 25th anniversary, Johnson said.
     Average giving to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal is now $2.50 per
ELCA member, Johnson said.  To achieve $25 million, giving per member
must increase to an average of $5 per member, Johnson said.   The
appeal's administrative and fund-raising costs are about six percent,
and 100 percent of funds given for designated disaster relief are used
specifically for that purpose, she said.
     "The effectiveness of what we're doing honors those with whom we
work," Johnson said.
     The hunger program also works in areas of the world often
forgotten, Johnson said.
     The World Hunger Appeal and World Hunger Program offer hope to the
ELCA and to those it serves, she said.
     "What will sustain us over time is hope," Johnson said. "If you
believe God is the abundant creator, how can you not believe that we can
end chronic hunger in our time?"
     Another conference speaker addressed issues related to food banks
in western Michigan and agreed that people have the ability to
"eliminate" hunger, if they follow scientific findings and Scripture.
     "If we can get the church to deal with the needy as the Bible
directs, we shall end hunger," said John Arnold, executive director,
Second Harvest Gleaners Food Bank of Western Michigan, Inc., Grand
Rapids, Mich.  He and others asked was that local agencies providing
food to needy people reflect on their work "in light of Scripture."  The
Bible contains a multitude of references to hunger and how to treat
people in need, he said.
     Arnold also recommended a series of procedural changes at food
banks that may help make food dollars -- and food -- reach those who
need it.
     In cooperation with United Way, Second Harvest studied ways to
improve food delivery systems and came up with several solutions.  For
example, Arnold said the findings show the cost of charity food can be
reduced by replacing food drives with fund drives and "leveraging" more
food per dollar by using the food bank's donated resources better.
     For every dollar spent on food for the needy, Arnold said about 37
cents actually goes to them.  Providing funds versus food to food banks
can help change that, he said.
     "If we can't raise our budget, how about getting the dollars we've
got to work 52 times more than they do now?" Arnold said. "Eliminating
hunger suddenly becomes affordable."
     Arnold also said the research showed it is better to dispense food
by allowing people to choose what they want versus giving them specific
foods only.
     "Clients would come out hugely better off nutritionally, if you
allow them to choose their own food," Arnold said.
     To improve food banks, Arnold also suggested "leveraging" 10 times
as much help for people in need by providing food to those who need it
so they can use their funds to meet other needs,  reducing pressure on
local resources by informing clients of state and federal assistance
programs, and informing elected officials of hunger's realities.

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