This document summarizes a webinar hosted by Bread for the World, an organization that advocates for political leaders to end hunger domestically and abroad. The webinar provided an overview of Bread for the World's mission and goals, described current U.S. food aid programs, and proposed reforms to make food aid more efficient, nutritious, and well-funded. Attendees were encouraged to participate in Bread for the World's annual Offering of Letters campaign by writing letters to their representatives in Congress urging support for food aid reforms.

1. National Grassroots
Conference Call
and Webinar
February 18th, 2014
#breadweb
A collective Christian voice urging our nation's leaders to end hunger at home and abroad.

2. National Grassroots Conference Call
and Webinar: Opening Welcome
LaVida LaVida Davis
Davis
Director of Organizing
Director, Organizing & Grassroots Capacity
Questions: mjasin@bread.org or @bread4theworld on Twitter
#breadweb

3. National Grassroots Conference Call
and Webinar: Opening Welcome
Matt Newell-Ching
LaVida Davis
Director of Organizing
Deputy Director of Organizing,
Western Region
Questions: mjasin@bread.org or @bread4theworld on Twitter
#breadweb

5. What is Bread for the World?
Bread for the World is a
collective Christian voice urging
our nation’s decision makers to
end hunger at home and abroad.
•
•
•
•
Bipartisan
Advocacy at national level
No direct service—advocacy only
Offering of Letters as one tool

6. Why advocacy?
From the Bible
• God cares about
hungry people.
• Prophets held
leaders
accountable.
Charity is important,
but not enough.
Government needs
to do its part.

7. What is an Offering of Letters?
• One key advocacy tool
• Joining our voices with
others
• Letters to Congress—
handwritten are best
• Can happen anytime,
anywhere, with anyone

8. Why our letters matter
• Members of Congress want to hear from constituents.
• In a democracy, we can advocate and hold leaders
accountable.
• Personalized letters
are rated highly (more
than pre-written
form letters/emails/
petitions).
• If we get discouraged,
what voices will
Congress hear?

9. Our advocacy makes a difference
Each year, our letters
help win victories on
Capitol Hill.

10. Questions?
Questions: mjasin@bread.org or @bread4theworld on Twitter
#breadweb

11. Bread for the World’s
2014 Offering of Letters
Tell Congress:
Reform U.S. food aid.

12. The Bible, hunger, and food aid
• People fed in the wilderness (manna, quails) and on
hillsides (loaves, fish)
• Our neighbors
are nearby and
far away.
• What other Bible
passages or
stories come to
your mind?

13. What is U.S. food aid?
• Part of foreign aid, funded by taxpayer dollars
• Meets urgent
humanitarian needs
(drought, famine,
war, disasters like
Philippines typhoon)
• Longer-term
development tool,
with other aid
• Story examples…

14. Who gets U.S. food aid?
In fiscal year 2012:
• top recipients of emergency food aid:
Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, and Chad.
• top recipients of development food aid:
Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of
Congo, Malawi, and South Sudan.
• In Latin America (and the Caribbean), the top food-aid
recipients were:
Haiti, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, and Honduras.

15. How does food aid work now?
• Most food is grown in U.S.
• At least 50% transported on American ships.
• It’s costly and slow
to arrive where it’s
needed.

16. What smart changes are needed?
1. An updated and more flexible system. That means:
More food purchased
near people in need.
Why? It arrives
faster, is less
expensive, helps
local farmers
and economies.

17. What smart changes are needed?
2. Improve nutrition:
1,000 days key window
for very nutritious foods

18. What smart changes are needed?
3. Maintain funding
in the face of
federal budget
cuts

19. Questions?
Questions: mjasin@bread.org or @bread4theworld on Twitter
#breadweb

20. The key “ask” for your letter
To Congress: I urge
you to protect and
reform U.S. food aid
in ways that increase
efficiency, increase
nutritional quality,
and maintain funding
levels.

21. Tips
• Keep your letter brief and to
the point.
• Make the letter your own.
Tell your story. (Include
something from real life.)
• Explain why you care about
hunger.
• Make the “ask.”
• Include your name and home address.

22. Congressional addresses
For House member:
For Senate members:
Rep. (Name)
Sen. (Name)
U.S. House of Representatives
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20515
Washington, DC 20510

23. /
Email Congress

24. Questions?
Questions: mjasin@bread.org or @bread4theworld on Twitter
#breadweb

25. /http://www.bread.org/ol/2014/act-now/

26. http://www.bread.org/ol/2014/downloads/

27. http://www.bread.org/ol/2014/issues/videos.html

28. For more information
Check out www.bread.org/go/OL

29. Questions?
Questions: mjasin@bread.org or @bread4theworld on Twitter
#breadweb

30. Next Steps
•
Next Call: Tuesday, March 18th
•
Keep a look out for your 2014 Offering of
Letters Kit!
Questions: mjasin@bread.org or @bread4theworld on Twitter
#breadweb