Feeding the Hungry with Surplus Food

While the farm crisis no longer makes daily headlines, problems continue to plague many of the nation’s family farms. And an Oklahoma evangelist is calling on churches to get involved in programs that would help farmers and also benefit hungry people.

Larry Jones, president of Feed the Children, has been a long-time advocate of using the country’s billions of bushels of farm surplus to feed the hungry. “It’s hard to believe that one out of every four children—including one out of every two nonwhite children—are malnourished in a country where there are not enough [grain] elevators to store our surplus food,” he has said. Jones estimates it costs American taxpayers $9.6 million a day to store surplus harvests.

In an effort to dramatize how churches can become involved, Jones has launched a series of special events in several major cities. The kick-off event, Feed the Children Washington, D.C., included a three-day evangelistic crusade at the Washington Monument and distribution of more than 1 million pounds of food. Some of the food was donated by farmers and corporations, and Feed the Children purchased the rest from farm surplus. More than 600 Washington-area churches distributed the food to the needy through food banks and soup kitchens.

While much of the media attention focused on the food giveaway, Jones said he believes the evangelistic rally was equally important. When people are physically hungry, he said, they often are also spiritually thirsty. “Words are cheap at times, but when we follow our words with a million pounds of food for these people, we feel they’re going to see that someone really does care.”

The Washington, D.C., effort included a visit to centers of political power. Jones presented U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Jim Wright (D-Tex.) and the Reagan administration with 300,000 petitions calling on the federal government to implement programs to encourage the private sector, including churches, to use farm surpluses to feed the hungry.

Our Latest

High Time for an Honest Conversation about THC

Legal cannabis may be here to stay, but the Christian conversation is just getting started.

The National Guard Debate Needs a Dose of Honesty

Criticizing federal overreach while remaining silent about local failures does not serve the cause of justice.

News

Saudi Arabian Prison Frees Kenyan After ‘Blood Money’ Payout

A Christian mother relied on the Muslim practice of “diyat” to bring her son home alive.

Why Fans Trust Forrest Frank

The enormously popular Christian artist says he experienced miraculous healing. His parasocial friends say “amen.”

How a Missionary Family in Lebanon Produced an American Hero

Bill Eddy’s Arabic acumen served US interests and forged Middle East ties.

Eight Divine Names in One Glorious Passage

Hebrew terms for God appear across the Old Testament. The prophet Isaiah brings them all together.

The Bulletin

Venezuelan Boat Attack, Payday Loans, and USAID Fire Sale

The Bulletin discusses the attack on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat, predatory lending, and the destruction of items from cancelled USAID projects.

Why an Early American Missionary Family Was Beloved in Lebanon

Over five decades of multigenerational ministry, the Eddys pioneered health and educational outreach.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube