Dear People of Virginia Synod,
I heard a story recently of a man who on his way to his best friend’s wedding. He was dressed in his finest attire and wearing very expensive shoes. As he hurried through the village park, he saw a young child fall into the pond and struggle to stay afloat. No one was there with the child; in fact no one else was in the park. The man wondered, should he risk being late for his best friend’s wedding to save the child. Should he ruin his very expensive shoes. He was not responsible for the child, what was his moral duty?
If, like me, you say, of course he should be late for the wedding and ruin his shoes! A life is worth so much more than a pair of shoes and even perhaps a friendship.
Then it is also our moral duty to save the child who we cannot see before us, the one who is hungry, the one who may not have others who are able to care for it.
In 2017 there were 40 million people in the United States who were unsure where their next meal was coming from. 39.7 million Americans were living in poverty. These are the last figures noted by the Lutheran World Hunger website.
Today, during this COVID-19 pandemic, we know those numbers are higher. Many people are out of work or furloughed with minimal benefits. Many day laborers and “gig” workers like musicians, babysitters, and home-salespeople are unable to earn a living.
ELCA world hunger offers services, not only to people living in faraway places but also to those living in the U.S. and Virginia. Domestic hunger grants have benefited 116 ministries throughout the United States across 63 synods and 32 states in addition to Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. Virginia synod has been the recipient of 3 grants in the past 3 years!
In response to the COVID epidemic, Daily Bread matching funds are available to congregations with feeding ministries. Four matching grants have been awarded in Virginia.
Lutheran World Hunger provides resources to help address the root causes of hunger, to break the cycle and help people help themselves.
Because we are not gathering together, it is easy for us to forget this important ministry of our church. Please consider donating online or by using the enclosed envelope. You can drop it off in the church dropbox, or mail it in.
May God bless your time of self quarantine and social distancing! May God have mercy on the hungry of our country and around the world!
In Christ’s service,
Betsy Liljeberg
Hunger Team
