Synod’s congregations passionate about fighting hunger

By Rick Nelson, synod Hunger Committee

Churches in the Southwestern Washington Synod are very supportive of ELCA World Hunger.

From February 2010 to January 2011, 51 of the synod's 93 congregations and authorized worship communities donated $96,830 that passed through the synod accounts. On their own, congregations directly donated another $62,100 to the ELCA World Hunger for a total of $158,930. That averaged $4.30 per baptized member of the synod.

In the first four months of the 2011 fiscal year, 34 congregations have donated $25,574 to World Hunger through synod accounts.

Total gifts from ELCA churches to World Hunger in 2010 totaled $16.2 million.

In the World Hunger financial model, between 20 and 25 percent of World Hunger gifts are spent domestically.

The 2012 Domestic Hunger Grants application was finally made available July 22. You can access the application at www.elca.org/domestichungergrants and then proceed to the application link to get started. Please note that the application is due by Aug. 26, 2011.

The synod Hunger Committee will evaluate the applications once they have been received.

In 2010, 12 churches and related non-profit organizations were funded. These included a mobile food bank, a community center providing services for children, a community garden, and a weekend food backpack program for low-income children.