Bread for the World launches 2011 letters campaign

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Bread for the World launches 2011 letters campaign

> Written by Jeff Woodard
> January 19, 2011

Citing the hard work of poor people themselves as
one of the principal factors in improving their
lives, the Rev. David Beckmann says Bread for the
World's current letter-writing campaign will help
put the impoverished into motion toward a brighter future.

"Given the opportunity to improve their

communities and provide a better life for their
children, they will seize it," says Beckmann, Bread for the World president.

> Bread for the World launched on Jan. 12 its
> annual Offering of Letters campaign to urge
> Congress to reform U.S. foreign assistance in a
> way that more effectively benefits hungry and poor people worldwide.

Thousands of churches representing nearly 50
denominations nationwide are expected to
participate this year. As part of a worship
service or Mass, Christians will write letters
that will be placed into offering plates and dedicated to God.

> Theodora Artz, a member of
> <http://www.davidsucc.org/>David's UCC in
> Kettering, Ohio, and four-time participant in the
> Offering of Letters, says her reasons for writing are twofold.

"Bread provides background information to help me
understand the important issue we write about,
and the letters do get a response from Congress,"
says Artz. "Hunger and poverty are not partisan
issues and participation in the Offering of
Letters reflects my religious and moral values."

Elizabeth Keyes, a member of the mission board at
David's, says her congregation began putting pen
to paper when former Congressman Tony Hall ? now
executive director of the Alliance to End Hunger
? visited her church. "He encouraged us to 'do
what's in front of you' with regards to social
justice," says Keyes. "This gives us a vehicle
for doing justice in addition to just helping others."

More effective aid is crucial to poor countries
such as Haiti and Liberia. Haiti is struggling to
recover from longstanding poverty made worse by
the 2010 earthquake. Similarly, the people of
Liberia are emerging from two devastating civil
wars that have left many deeply impoverished.

More effective U.S. assistance will help Haitians
and Liberians ? and people in many other
developing countries ? increase their capacity
and infrastructure so they can become self-sufficient.

"Working to end hunger and poverty is an

imperative part of the Christian journey," said
Susan M. Sanders, UCC minister for Global Sharing
of Resources. "Bread for the World's Offering of
Letters is a powerful and accessible mechanism
for congregations to put their faith into action
and advocate for ending hunger and poverty."

Generating hundreds of thousands of letters to
Congress annually, Bread for the World seeks change on four fronts:

* A stronger U.S. government focus on reducing poverty

> * Clearer accountability for how U.S. aid
> dollars are spent and their results

> * A transformed U.S. development agency

* U.S. aid that meets the needs and wants of local people

"God is calling us to make sure U.S. foreign aid
reaches those who need it most," said Beckmann,
"and that it supports their efforts to lift their communities out of povert 
y."

Offering of Letters materials are available at
<<http://www.bread.org/ol>bread.org/ol>.
<http://www.bread.org/>Bread for the World is a
collective Christian voice urging our nation's
decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad.