A Place at the Table:

Bread for the World Offering of Letters

 Have you had the experience lately of receiving a real letter in the mail? I have, and I sat right down to read that letter first, before looking at any other mail. Our members of Congress also pay attention to real, handwritten letters that they receive from their constituents. (That’s us.) Legislators state that receiving letters is the most effective communication from the public, and the most influential in determining their votes. Therefore, Pitcher Hill will again participate with Bread for the World in an Offering of Letters on behalf of poor and hungry people. We will do this on Mother’s Day, May 12, 2013, during the worship service. This year’s theme is “A Place at the Table”. Just as God invites us all to His table, we are called to advocate for the poor and hungry in our midst; that they may have food on their tables.  Bread for the World is an effective Christian advocacy organization that has accomplished many goals of reducing hunger with the help of faithful letter writers.

The number of people in the United States who are at risk for hunger has increased from 36.2 million in 2007 to 50.1 million in 2011.  Since 2006, food banks have seen a nearly 50% increase in clients needing food assistance. Globally, there are about 1 billion people who do not have a secure supply of food.  We ask that you take a few minutes to write a letter urging Congress to provide adequate funding for programs that address hunger and help lift people out of poverty. In the US, these programs are SNAP—Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and WIC—Nutrition for Women, Infants and Children.  The United States also provides PFDA–Poverty Focused Development Assistance to reduce poverty and provide food and development aid to our brothers and sisters around the world.

This year we also have a petition for President Obama, to show him the depth of our support for ending hunger. You may write a letter, sign the petition, or do both. The Diaconal Ministries Committee will provide paper, pens, envelopes and a sample letter. Thank you for the many years of faithful letter writing that has made important improvements in the lives of others.