08/16/2011

Hunger Task Force E-news for August 2011

August 2011

Look at the great things happening in faith communities to fight hunger and malaria…

Zion Lutheran Church, Leola, Pennsylvania

Zion Lutheran has found a great way to engage their congregation’s creative genius in the fight against hunger. All summer long members of the congregation stop by a local art studio to paint and decorate their own ceramic bowls that will be used in the “Empty Bowls, Open Hearts” fund raising dinner. Proceeds from the dinner will be sent to ELCA World Hunger and the local food bank.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Cincinnati

Good Shepherd Lutheran, in just three weeks, raised $137 for World Hunger by selling fresh herbs and tomatoes to church service attendees. The herbs and vegetables are harvested from a home garden, packaged in baggies and recycled plastic containers, then offered up for free will offerings. Basil, thyme, oregano, sage, rosemary and mint are flying off the sale table! Contact Lora Jollis at lorajollis@gmail.com for details.          

Malaria Campaign Update

Great news! To date, the ELCA Malaria Campaign has raised $1.5 million in cash and pledges to fight malaria, representing 10% of the campaign goal. Keep up the good work, and share your initiatives with us!

ELCA Malaria Website

Check out the brand new video, downloadable from the ELCA website, www.elca.org/malaria . The site is easy to navigate and has many resources for education and action to fight this preventable disease. Malaria kills 800,000 people each year, and most are children under five. The ELCA, partnering with eleven Lutheran church bodies in Africa, is part of the global movement to stop this disease. Answer the call to be part of this ministry! 

Living Lutheran Website

Here’s a website with great ideas for serving others. Current articles include stories about individuals and churches who minister to God’s people at home and around the world; ways to improve outreach to young people in their twenties and thirties; and, how to support those among us who are grieving. Check it out at http://www.livinglutheran.org/ .

AmpleHarvest.org

Here’s another great website that enables 40+ million Americans who grow food in home gardens to easily donate their excess harvest to registered local food pantries spread across 50 states. Gardeners, farmers, and other donors can share their fresh produce and, garden-by-garden, help diminish hunger in America. Just click on this link, http://www.ampleharvest.org/, to find a pantry near you. Already know of a pantry near you? Then recommend this site to your friends, anywhere in the USA!