2001 World Hunger and Oblation Aid

-A Year of Sharing with Those Who Needed Our Support

People’s offerings to the World Hunger and Oblation Funds have made it possible to meet a wide array of needs all over the world. During the 2001 calendar year, a grand total of $1,335,600 was distributed from these funds: $403,000 through World Hunger, and $932,600 through Oblation.

Donations to these funds continue to increase each year with 2001 experiencing a three percent increase from 2000. World Hunger and Oblation Funds have helped alleviate hunger and increase future sustenance, offered relief in times of disaster, and supported compassionate ministries that meet basic human needs.

World Church stewardship commissioner Kenneth Schnell said, “When it comes to these ministries, our community is the world.” Projects have been funded under the auspices of World Hunger and Oblation in Africa, New Zealand, the Philippines, Brazil, Canada, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Russia, El Salvador, Pakistan, Honduras, and the United States. “Because we are a world church, we can do wonderful things together,” he continued.

The World Hunger Fund distributes grants directly and through Outreach International and World Accord, human development agencies affiliated with the church. Bread for the World received a direct grant of $35,000. Bread for the World’s associate for national church outreach Kathleen O’Toole said, “Our success in last year’s [2001] campaign, and our ability to move forward with new, ambitious dreams of a future in which hunger is no longer the scourge it remains for millions of our sisters and brothers, is inextricably linked to the support of church partners like Community of Christ.”

The church’s World Hunger Ministries Web site at www.CofChrist.org/hunger carried a prominent link to Bread for the World’s “Offering of Letters” initiative. “Our staff uses the Community of Christ Web site with its easy-to-use connection to Bread for the World as an example to other denominations of how to engage churches in concrete action on behalf of the world’s poor and hungry families,” said O’Toole.

Direct grants also funded Harvest House Food Pantry in St. Joseph, Missouri, USA, and Loaves and Fishes Community Kitchen in Branson, Missouri, USA. Another grant supported the Independence, Missouri, USA, Community Services League program designed to encourage and assist women to stop smoking through a formal smoking cessation program, thereby freeing up additional household funds for food purchasing.

World Hunger grants to Outreach International (OI) supported daycare nutrition and school lunch programs in Brazil, Dominican Republic, and Haiti. Its Africa Field Program includes twenty human development specialists in Kenya, Zambia, Congo, and Malawi, who work to assist village residents to resolve hunger-related problems through increased food production, expanded use of working animals, and by organizing cooperatives to store and market the more abundant crops. Another OI project in Gribanovka, Russia, is aimed at developing a chicken farm to produce and market eggs in the local community to provide a source of nutrition and add to the food security of the area.

World Accord projects funded by World Hunger grants focused on ongoing programs that increase people’s food security, provide skills training, and encourage economic development. Tribal indigenous farming and fishing villages in Mindanao, Philippines, that had been affected by former guerilla warfare were helped with relocation and establishment of food security.

World Accord also supports a development program for women in rural Pakistan that enhances women’s productive capacity as partners in farming so their families can remain on their farms instead of being forced to migrate to urban areas. All World Accord grants are matched at a ratio of at least three to one by Canadian government funds.

The World Hunger Fund provided disaster aid following earthquakes in El Salvador and India and famine relief in Lodwar, Kenya. A grant of $25,000 was distributed through Church World Service to meet basic living needs of Afghanistan refugees displaced by Taliban rule, the devastation of the air strikes, and the impact of the Northern Alliance.

The Oblation Fund also provided disaster relief following the earthquakes in El Salvador and India. A contribution to the Red Cross in Taiwan, Republic of China, provided aid after Typhoon Nari devastated city life and agriculture in Taipei. The American Red Cross received $25,000 in response to the tragic events of September 11 to offer assistance at affected areas in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania.

Seventy-five percent of 2001’s Oblation distributions were used to aid individuals and families. Oblation offers emergency financial assistance for basic needs (e.g., food, clothing, shelter, medical expenses) and extended assistance on limited occasions. However, oblation aid is not a long-term arrangement.

“It bridges the gap for people who may have lost a job, experienced the death of or separation from a wage-earning spouse, or become ill or disabled,” said Schnell. Bishop Steve Jones added, “We know the lives of individuals and families have been significantly impacted by these very personal contributions.”

Oblation monies also funded eighteen Tangible Love grants for peace and justice ministries sponsored by Community of Christ congregations and jurisdictions, including:

• Interfaith Hospitality Network in Gulfport, Mississippi, USA, which provides temporary shelter and social programs for families;
• Rangimarie in Auckland, New Zealand, an outreach program for adults to study peace and justice issues;
• the purchase of a Peacemobile for Ottawa Valley in Ontario, Canada, to enrich the lives of children;
• Folk-Time in Portland, Oregon, USA, which meets the needs of adults with chronic mental illness; and
• Tovwirane Center in Malawi, Africa, which works to eradicate HIV and AIDS and its impact.

World Hunger and Oblation dollars are allocated through caring individuals and agencies who are very grateful to contributors. Donations to these funds make it possible for advocates to do things like make a rent payment to keep a family in their home, fund a community food pantry, provide nutritious lunches to youth, or support homeless refugees. “All ministry requires a personal touch,” said Schnell, “-most also needs financial resources to meet existing needs. The dedication of members and friends’ regular offerings through the Oblation and World Hunger Funds make it possible to completely turn lives around.”

-Kendra Friend reporting

January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2001 World Hunger ($417,100 in contributions)
7 Grants through    Outreach International		$165,400
11 Grants through World Accord		149,500
1 Grant to Bread for the World		35,000
3 Grants - received directly		13,100
Grants - Disaster Relief
El Salvador Earthquake		5,000
Lodwar Famine		5,000
India Earthquake		5,000
Afghanistan Refugees   (via CWS)		25,000
Total		$403,000
Oblation ($989,100 in contributions)
Distributed
18 Grants - Tangible Love		$179,200
Aid to individuals
U.S. & Canada		580,000
Other Nations		124,400
Grants - Disaster Relief
El Salvador Earthquake		11,500
India Earthquake		6,000
NYC & Washington, D. C.,   Disaster (via Red Cross)		25,000
Taiwan Typhoon   (via Red Cross)		7,000
Total		$932,600
Grand Total		$1,335,600