ELCA Hunger Leaders Consider Fund Goals, Food Bank Issues

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.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html