April 29, 2005
More than $1.5 Million Provided in 2004
through Oblation and World Hunger Funds
Contributions
to and grants from Oblation and World Hunger during 2004 were substantially
higher than 2003 and close to the largest ever. Contributions to Oblation
reached $1,060,000 and World Hunger offerings climbed to $555,000. A total of
$1,620,000 was distributed in grants from these two funds.
An increase was also experienced in the number of congregations that
supported food pantries, CROP Walk, Bread for the World offering of letters,
the Feinstein Foundation hunger grant challenge, and other local creative
ministries that address the issues of hunger by actively involving people of
all ages.
Extending a Helping Hand
Oblation, Tangible Love (funded through Oblation), and World Hunger
ministries are about people who care about people. Contributors express their
concern for the needs of others by giving generously to Oblation and World
Hunger. Member of the Tangible Love (co-chair) and World Hunger Committees
Kenneth Schnell said, “In the best moments, all are able to focus on the
grateful people throughout the world who are so appreciative that others have
shared.”
Oblation aid for individuals and families in need of financial support
totaled nearly $775,000 in 2004. Additional Oblation dollars provided for
Tangible Love grants. World Hunger grants totaling $626,200 supported
ministries offered through Outreach International, World Accord, and Community
of Christ jurisdictions.
In many cases Oblation and World Hunger grants offer temporary needed
relief. At other times, people are equipped to take needed steps to positively
affect their futures. It is the coming together of many components—passion for
helping others; hands-on organization and ministry by volunteers; and the
generous financial contributions of members and friends around the world—that
make it possible. Schnell said, “Thank you to all who bring the many elements
of these ministries together.”
You can support ministries funded by Oblation and World Hunger by
contributing through your Mission Tithes offering envelopes. Offertories on
the first Sundays in March and September focus on World Hunger. The first
Sunday of all other months focus on Oblation. All undesignated contributions
on those days go to the emphasized fund.
Disaster Relief
Oblation and World Hunger dollars are also put to work to cover immediate
and ongoing needs created when disasters strike. Some funds were provided in
June for replanting crops following flooding in Haiti. Aid was distributed in
the southeastern United States and the Caribbean following hurricanes in
September. The December Indian Ocean tsunami initiated a generous response
from donors that continued into 2005.
25 Years of World Hunger Relief
Initiated by World Conference action in 1978, the World Hunger Fund began
collecting contributions and distributing grants in 1980. Since that time,
$8,389,664 has been provided through hundreds of grants in 36 countries.
During 2004, grants made a difference in places including Bolivia, Democratic
Republic of Congo, India, the Philippines, the United States, and many more.
Participatory human development programs in poor countries administered by
Outreach International that received World Hunger grants included projects
that focused on things like providing nutritious meals and safe water for
children at daycares and schools; training for staff who staff who work in
villages on projects related to agriculture, land development, and nutrition
education; and meeting needs identified by village groups where food
production and the storage and utilization of crops are of particular concern.
Grassroots development projects in developing areas administered by World
Accord that received World Hunger grants included projects that provide
affordable credit to rural women to support marketing of crops and generating
income; enabling poor, displaced families to learn garden cultivation
techniques for inferior soil; and improving food security and sustainability
by introducing improved farming techniques to poor farmers.
World Hunger grants also directly supported community food distribution
programs offered by Community of Christ ministries in the United States.
Another direct grant was given to Bread for the World, based in Washington,
D.C., in support of Christian advocacy for the world’s hungry.
World Hunger Committee chair Wallace B. Smith said, “Urgent needs related
to hunger, poverty, AIDS orphans, and refugees in many countries make
contributions to the World Hunger Fund more important than ever. I am thankful
for the support of the World Hunger Fund by concerned members and friends and
pray that as a committee we will be blessed to make wise decisions in the
granting and distribution of these funds.”
Tangible Love Fosters Community Collaboration
Tangible Love grants are available for peace, justice, and compassionate
ministries sponsored by congregations and jurisdictions who work with their
communities. Co-chair of the Tangible Love Committee Andrew Bolton said, “I am
thankful for the generosity of members and friends as they remember the poor
and the mission of Jesus through Oblation offerings. Through our contributions
we empower each other to make a creative difference in the lives of others.”
Tangible Love ministries are designed to recognize the worth of
individuals, families, congregations, and communities, locally and
internationally, and to facilitate reconciliation and healing of the spirit.
Details on Tangible Love ministries initiated in 2004 were published in the
March Herald, page 36.
Starting and Sustaining a Local Ministry
With resources and networking available from World Headquarters and
existing World Hunger and Tangible Love ministries, it is very accessible to
begin and sustain new local projects. Details about specific ministries,
applying for Tangible Love and World Hunger grants, and education and advocacy
opportunities are available at
www.CofChrist.org/tlove/ and
www.CofChrist.org/hunger/
or by contacting Ken Schnell at 1-800-825-2806, ext. 3073. Support for finding
additional funding and guidance from a consultant to help sustain programs is
offered through
www.CofChrist.org/grantwriting/.
-Kendra Friend
reporting
January 1–December 31, 2004
World Hunger
($554,700 Total Contributions) |
| Grants |
Distributed |
| 11 Outreach International |
$280,400 |
| 8 World Accord |
215,500 |
| 1 Bread for the World |
35,000 |
| 4 Direct – Local Food Pantry/Coops |
24,000 |
| Grant Writing Support/Consultant |
4,300 |
| 4 Disaster Relief |
|
| Haiti - Food Support |
25,000 |
| Haiti - Flood Relief |
35,000 |
| Orlando - Hurricane |
5,000 |
| Pensacola - Hurricane |
2,000 |
|
Total $626,200 |
|
Oblation
($1,060,000 Total Contributions) |
|
Grants |
Distributed |
| 17 Tangible Love (including grant writing support) |
$195,600 |
| Aid to Individuals |
|
| U.S. and Canada |
726,800 |
| Other Nations |
46,900 |
| 4 Disaster Relief |
|
| Hurricane - Haiti |
3,000 |
| Hurricane - Caribbean |
10,000 |
| Hurricane - Alabama NW, Florida |
10,000 |
| Hurricane - Gulf USA |
3,000 |
|
Total $995,300 |
| Grand Total $1,621,500 |
