wfn.org | Newsline: Hunger program receives funding to fulfill grant requests

[cobnews <cobnews@brethren.org>]

Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service, News Director Cheryl Brumbau gh-Cayford, 800-323-8039 ext. 260, cobnews@brethren.org

HUNGER PROGRAM RECEIVES FUNDING TO FULFILL GRANT REQUESTS

(April 9, 2009) Elgin, IL -- The Church of the Brethren's Domestic Hunger M atching Grant program has received an additional $30,000 from the denominat ion's Global Food Crisis Fund as well as approximately $30,000 in donations  in response to a direct fundraising appeal. The matching grants are reques ted by congregations to aid local food banks and food pantries in communiti es across the United States.

The program has offered grants of up to $500 to match congregations' contri butions for local food pantries and soup kitchens during the first quarter  of 2009. It was conceived as a 10-week special response to the food crisis  across the country this winter, co-sponsored by the church's Global Food Cr isis Fund and Emergency Disaster Fund, along with the Stewardship departmen t.

The new funding represents enough money to match the remaining 158 applicat ions from congregations. Congregations that submitted applications by the d eadline of March 15 will have their grant amounts matched by the program.

Congregations and denominational programs together have provided a total of  more than $330,000 in assistance to 318 food pantries.

"In summary, through the Domestic Matching Grant Program, 354 congregations  raised $186,446 for local food banks," reported Howard Royer, manager of t he Global Food Crisis Fund. The Global Food Crisis Fund provided a total of  $80,000, and the Emergency Disaster Fund provided a total of $37,500.

"We rejoice not only in this monetary response but in the significant way B rethren congregations and individuals are otherwise engaged in local minist ries of compassion," Royer said.

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