Raising Hunger Awareness - Christianity Today

The following is a selection of programs nationwide that Christians use to raise hunger awareness in their congregations and schools:

The broken Bread Poverty Meal: A national event is scheduled for World Food Day, October 16. During this meal, a blend of corn-soy porridge is served to participants, who have fasted for one meal before the event. They view evocative story cards that detail the lives of poor children. This helps participants see the connections between aids, poverty, and hunger. See worldvision.org/aoa.nsf/aids/events_brokenbread08

Bread for the World Sunday: This event is held in the fall every year (October 19 this year), with a worship service centered on hunger-related themes. A special offering may be taken. Members may be asked to write letters to lawmakers to encourage legislation to fight global hunger. See bread.org

Crop Hunger Walk: Sponsored by Church World Service, Crop Walk is the grandfather of hunger awareness programs. Many of these walks are in October across the nation. The program marked its 60th anniversary in August. Over the years, sponsors have paid five million people to walk against hunger, raising tens of millions. A portion of the donations is used locally. See churchworldservice.org/crop

Forty Hour Fast: Sponsored by the Presbyterian Hunger Program, this church-based fasting and prayer event typically starts on a Thursday evening and concludes Sunday. Its current focus is on the global food crisis. See pcusa.org/foodcrisis

Thirty Hour Famine: Designed for use in youth ministries, the next national event is in late February 2009. Teens engage in special events and community service projects to raise funds to fight global hunger. See 30hourfamine.org