World Hunger Appeal and Coffee Project

Posted Sat, 2011-02-12 14:47 by Janice Jeletic

 

World Hunger Appeal and Coffee Project

THE EFFECTS OF HUNGER:

  • Luzhou Church in China 
  • The World Hunger Appeal and Tour de Revs
  • Lutheran World Relief Coffee Project
  • Domestic Hunger Grants

Information Reviewed in August of 2010

 

 

Luzhou Church in China

ELCA World Hunger funds have been provided to Luzhou Church in the Sichuan Province of China to meet the needs of those living in poverty in the area.  The village of Tudiba had an asset - Lychee fruit that were the favorite of the Tang dynasty imperial court.  However, the road leading to the village was not paved.  Moreover, many villagers did not have clean water, forcing them to spend many hours hauling water that wasn't even clean.  

ELCA World Hunger funds were used to help pave a road (70% of which the government then funded) and wells were dug for 100 families (the government bore the holes and ELCA World Hunger Funds used their donations for pumps and infrastructure).

Now, most of the villagers have access to clean drinking water, improving their health and giving them time for other jobs.  And the lychee trade has brought renewed economic rewards.  In fact, these lychees were sent to be served to visiting dignitaries at the Beijing Olympics.

This is all happening as an outreach ministry of Luzhou Church - a champion in the ELCA's Global Mission Ministry.

For photos, see http://imageevent.com/elcahunger/chinaluzhou

Franklin Ishida
ELCA Global Mission

 

World Hunger Appeal

 

The World Hunger Appeal is celebrating over 30 years of ministry.  
We hope throughout the year everyone will celebrate - with one voice - 
the efforts of those who want to alleviate the issues of hunger in our country and throughout the world.

Our congregational offerings in 2010 (as of July 19, 2010)
$47,297.20

Last year at this time the contributions were
$51,286.47

Please send checks to: 
Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod
9625 Perry Highway     
Pittsburgh, PA 15237

Make checks payable to: Southwestern PA Synod
Memo: World Hunger Appeal 

For creative ideas on how to engage your congregations in this ministry, go to the ELCA web site: www.elca.org/hunger

The ELCA World Hunger Program does more than just give food to people who are hungry.  It also addresses the root of the problem. It improves the lives of people in need in the United States and around the world by:

  • providing immediate relief for people affected by chronic hunger and poverty
  • assisting whole communities through long-term, sustainable development to help alleviate chronic hunger and poverty
  • advocating for justice by changing laws and systems
  • educating members of the ELCA in awareness of issues relating to hunger, poverty and justice

Please give as you are able to the World Hunger Appeal

 

 

Lutheran World Relief Coffee Project
Letter from Lutheran World Relief and Equal Exchange

Thanks to you, the Lutheran World Relief Coffee Project just keeps growing!  We are overwhelmed by your response to the 90-Ton Challenge issued by LWR and Women of the ELCA.  More than 4,300 Lutheran parishes, women's groups, offices, and schools participating in the LWR Coffee Project purchased 99 tons of fairly traded coffee in the past year!  Because of this support, thousands of small-scale farmers and their families have access to fair trade, earning a just price for their products as well as long-term trading relationships.  As a result, LWR's partner Equal Exchange continues to grow.  Equal Exchange has relocated, and is adding new products: more coffee choices and sugar packets!  With more products and LWR Coffee Project participants, the benefits of fair trade reach more farming communities each year.

In addition to a fair price, fair trade provides farmers with resources for social and community development, such as health care, public transportation, and educational initiatives.  One such initiative is a women's leadership training program at Manos Campesinas cooperative, the growers of Equal Exchange's Organic Guatemalan coffee.  Rausara was one of the participants in the training:

The workshops were very meaningful to me.  Many times as women we don't value ourselves, but now we know we are worth as much as men and that we are equal and have rights, she shared.  As a result of the courses, we now voice our opinions.  We used to believe that our words weren't worth anything, but the facilitators helped us to show that our opinions are of value.

Share this valuable message with your parish, and thank them for their support of fair trade.  Using new fair trade products is one way to deepen your participation.  These new items are available now or will be soon - visit our website or contact Equal Exchange for details:

  • Organic Cafe Nica, Full City Roast: The original Equal Exchange coffee has returned in drip-grind packages.  Great to go with the upcoming LWR/ELCA World Hunger Open a World of Possibility: Nicaragua parish education program.  Visit www.lwr.org to learn more.
  • Organic Ethiopian Sidamo Natural, Full City Roast: This exotic and complex coffee will be available in drip-grind or whole bean.
  • Organic Colombian, Full City Roast: From small farmer co-ops in Caldas, Central Colombia, this distinctive and elegant coffee is available in drip-grind and whole bean.  Great to go along with LWR's Give Peace a Place in Colombia advocacy program.  Visit www.lwr.org/advocacy to learn more.
  • Organic Sugar Packets: This sugar from Paraguay comes in competively priced packages.  They're great for coffee hour, office use, coffeehouses and cafeterias!

Thanks again for participating in the LWR Coffee Project.

Blessings,

Brenda Meier of Lutheran World Relief
Erbin Crowell of Equal Exchange
Phone: 774-776-7366

Webstore: http://www.equalexchange.coop

Email:  lwr@equalexchange.com

 

 

Domestic Hunger Grants

 

Granting Hope is the catalog of the Domestic Hunger Grants Program of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  At this web site www.elca.org/grantinghope you can learn about the grants process, read descriptions of recent grant recipients (and search for them by state or synod), and find out how you can support hunger ministries like these.  Explore now how your congregation can apply for a Domestic Hunger Grant.

 

Last Updated ( Sunday, 01 August 2010 )