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BY LINDA WORTHINGTON
UMCONNECTION STAFF

'United Methodists can make a big difference in the lives of hungry people by supporting Bread for the World, a 'Christian voice for ending hunger.'

The 2004 General Conference urged congregations to participate in the struggle to end global and domestic hunger by participating in Bread for the World. The United Methodist Committee on Relief is a partner and receives donations for the organization through Advance #982920.

In a country that struggles with rising obesity, it is hard for many to think about people being hungry.

But nearly 36 million Americans, including 12.9 million children, lived in poverty in the United States in 2003, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Nearly 10 million children lived in homes that were at risk of hunger.

Hunger and food insecurity in the United States increased in 2003 for the fourth straight year. This represents more than one in 10 U.S. households, according to the Department of Agriculture.

'The typical pattern is that once every two or three months, in the last four or five days of the month, a family runs out of food,' the Rev. David Beckmann, a Lutheran minister who has served as president of Bread for the World since 1991, told the United Methodist Reporter newspaper.

It is for these folks, the food insecure, that Bread for the World, which works with 45 religious bodies, seeks help, and asks United Methodists everywhere to join in the effort.

'Help' for Bread for the World is not direct food aid; rather it is advocacy and concentrated efforts to get lawmakers in Congress to create or change legislation to benefit vast numbers of people who suffer from hunger in one form or another. For more than three decades the organization has worked with leaders from both political parties to craft legislation that gives hungry people the tools and resources they need to feed their families and make a living.

It's an uphill battle to get the attention of Congress, according to Beckmann. 'The nation's leaders are preoccupied with war, (national) security, tax cuts and Social Security reform. Hunger is way down the list.'

One of the yearly efforts the organization promotes is the Offering of Letters campaign, alternating years to emphasize either global or domestic hunger. The theme this year is 'Make Hunger History.'

The campaign asks Christians to send letters to Congress and President Bush supporting legislation that would set goals of cutting domestic hunger and food insecurity in half by 2010 and ending hunger entirely by 2015. The campaign also asks for protection of the budgets of national nutrition programs.

' We want to get Congress to put some power behind cutting hunger by half by 2010,' Karen Meurer, of Bread for the World's local church outreach staff, told a small group at Chevy Chase UMC. She stressed the need to continue food stamps, WIC and summer lunches at least at the current level, in view of huge budget cuts expected this year.

Meurer said new legislation would be introduced soon, called 'Hunger-Free Communities.' It would commit the President and Congress to not cut the budget on these vital food assistance programs. President Bush is proposing a cut of half a billion dollars in food stamps.

Lest one thinks their single letter doesn't matter to a congressperson, Meurer tells about checking with a congressional staffer on the number of letters the office had received. 'Lots,' the staffer replied. 'How many is that?' Meurer asked, expecting an answer of hundreds or at least dozens. 'Eight,' said the staffer.

'What we need is for United Methodists to get engaged, write Congress and tell them that they care about hunger in our country and around the world,' Beckmann said. The Make Hunger History campaign provides a specific opportunity to do that.