Dear Friend,
In 2010, we have several opportunities to change history for hungry people.
At no point in time have so many opportunities to help hungry and poor people arisen almost simultaneously. As faithful Christians, Bread for the World members are ready to respond to this moment—despite the challenges of the difficult economic times.
Here are the opportunities before us:
- The president and others have set the goal of ending childhood hunger in the United States by 2015. Child nutrition programs will be reauthorized by Congress early this year. Bread is working to increase program access and participation for low-income children, especially in the school breakfast and summer feeding programs. By reaching more eligible children, these programs could do much more to reduce childhood hunger.
- But food assistance alone will not end childhood hunger. Families need enough financial resources to meet their basic needs—including food. So this year’s Offering of Letters will ask Congress to protect and strengthen a few key tax credits that can make a big difference for low-income people.
- In 2010, tax policies will be debated as tax cuts enacted earlier this decade and tax credits passed in the 2009 Recovery Act are all due to expire. Congress will decide which ones to renew or change. The needs of low-income families and hungry children cannot be lost in this debate. Tax credits could deliver billions of dollars of assistance to working families struggling to put food on the table. By organizing an Offering of Letters in your church or on your campus, you will help to ensure that the needs of low-income people will not be lost.
- Last year, President Barack Obama, working with other world leaders, announced a new U.S. initiative to address world hunger by strengthening agriculture and food security in poor countries. Bread has been involved from the beginning in developing the Global Hunger and Food Secirity Initiative and will continue to be as plans are implemented.
- Work continues on the reform of U.S. foreign assistance, the topic of Bread’s 2009 Offering of Letters. We expect this Offering to carry over well into 2010 as lawmakers continue to wrestle with the reform of U.S. foreign aid.
While hunger is on the rise in our country and around the world, 2010 is a moment to take important steps to reverse this slide. Be a part of this vital work by participating in the 2010 Offering of Letters. Then, journey with Bread for the World on these other initiatives as, together, we strive to end hunger in God’s world.
Sincerely,
David Beckmann
President, Bread for the World
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