Offering of Letters - Western Iowa Synod and Bread for the World
HUNGER around the world and in Iowa is on the rise after declining for a decade.
- 2014 8.1 million people needed lifesaving humanitarian assistance.
- 2023 340 million who need it.
HUNGER in the United States
- 1 in 5 U.S. children are at risk of hunger (Bread for the World)
- More than 9.5 million adults 50+ rely on SNAP (AARP)
HUNGER in Iowa
- SNAP (supplemental nutrition assistance program) a part of the US Farm Bill
helps 1 in 12 fulltime workers put food on their table
- 69% are families with children
- 815,000 tons of surplus food went to waste in 2019 in Iowa
Join with other congregations from around Iowa and Bread for the World, a respected, ecumenical advocacy organization, to participate in a letter writing campaign to our leaders in congress. Urge Congress to support a farm bill that builds healthy, equitable, and sustainable food systems.
Ask: “I am just one person, what can I do?”
Answer: You can write a letter, send an email, advocate for your neighbors. Make your voice heard!
Iowans, we are in a unique position, our congressional delegation in both the House of Representatives and Senate serve on the Agriculture Committees and subcommittees. Letters from you, people of faith, congregations of the ELCA, will make a difference!
Senator Grassley - Letter to Senator Grassley
Senator Ernst - Letter to Senator Ernst
Representative Feenstra - Letter to Rep. Feenstra
Representative Nunn - Letter to Rep. Nunn
Iowa Interfaith Power & Light also offers an electronic letter via a fillable form: A Faithful Farm Bill
Bread for the World – Farm Bill Platform & Information
Western Iowa Synod & Bread for the World training video recording
The US Farm Bill, which must be reauthorized every 5 years, expired Sept. 30, 2023. Reauthorization is still pending until Congress passes a budget. Nutrition is a large portion of the Farm Bill providing funding for SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the largest governmental anti-hunger program.
