Celebrate World Food Day with ELCA World Hunger on Oct. 16!

Join people around the world in raising awareness and taking collective action to end hunger for good.

World Food Day is one of the most celebrated days on the United Nations calendar, with opportunities in more than 150 countries and more than 50 languages to raise awareness of hunger. This year’s theme, “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.,” highlights how we can combine traditional knowledge with forward-thinking solutions to ensure that everyone has access to nutritious food.

ELCA World Hunger has been at work for more than 50 years, addressing root causes of hunger around the world and here in the United States through innovative, sustainable projects. Your gifts connect people with training and resources so they can enjoy a fruitful harvest, access clean water, send their kids to school, get adequate healthcare and strengthen their income streams.

This World Food Day, your congregation or community is invited to join ELCA World Hunger in taking action. When we work together, we can build a just world where all are fed.

Set a goal for World Food Day!

ELCA Good Gifts are a smart and sustainable way to address the root causes of hunger for communities in need around the world. Bundles such as “Climate resilience kit” or “Abundant community” offer a collection of innovative tools that can lift up communities far into the future.

Safe-water access: $2,500

Lack of access to safe water is one of the biggest challenges to overcoming poverty. It’s also one of the most powerful opportunities to create change. With a simple water well, spring box or other water point, as many as 500 families gain access to clean, safe water. Communities are healthier. People spend less money on medical expenses and more on food and education. And instead of spending hours each day gathering water for the family, women and children have time for work and school. Talk about a future filled with hope!

Abundant community: $1,020

Equip a whole community with the resources needed to build a stronger future. This gift bundle includes a goat, a rooster, a cow, three chicks, seeds and gardening tools, honeybees, three fruit-tree seedlings, farmers’ field school and a community garden — gifts that will enable neighbors to nourish their families and generate income. The seeds of hope you help your neighbors plant today will continue to grow for generations to come.

Climate resilience kit: $910

In many areas around the world, a hurricane, a flood, a drought or another disaster can destroy the livelihoods of entire communities. A climate resilience kit can prepare our most vulnerable neighbors — especially farmers — to adapt to changing weather. With a fruit-tree farm, seeds and tools, farmers’ field school, a community garden, honeybees, three environmentally friendly cookstoves and an irrigation project, this gift includes the tools they need to grow heartier crops and use resources more efficiently.

Family farm: $715

Help a family break the cycle of hunger and poverty — for good. With eggs, milk and meat to eat and sell, and tools and training to increase the harvest, this gift can create a world of opportunity for a family living in poverty.

Activities and Resources

Use these resources from ELCA World Hunger to learn more about the issue of hunger and inspire innovative solutions in your community.

“Hunger Leader 101: What Is a Hunger Leader?”

The “Hunger Leader 101” course is for anyone with a passion for tackling hunger and injustice. From this course, you will gain a deeper understanding of the role hunger leaders play in ELCA World Hunger’s mission to end hunger at its root causes; you may even see yourself in this call to support, network and organize around antipoverty ministry.

“Intersections: Justice Ministry With ELCA Partners”

This short documentary explores stories from three ELCA companion ministries — in Cambodia, Mexico and Milwaukee, Wis. — as they respond to the overlapping root causes of hunger in the United States and around the world.

“Action Guide for Congregations”

This action guide will equip you with the newest and most popular ELCA resources to activate your congregation as you serve your community.

“At the Table” Vacation Bible School

“At the Table” gives congregations tools that will grow their ability to advocate for their neighbors through storytelling. It can be used as both a traditional, child-focused curriculum and an intergenerational program. A bilingual version in English and Spanish is available for order.

Generation Zero-Hunger Interactive Journey

With your youth group or congregation, use this interactive role-playing guide to appreciate the challenges faced by a family in Nepal as they seek a sustainable livelihood.

Prayers and Hymns for World Food Day

God of provision and plenty, you bless us and call us your own. Help us share your abundant love with people who are oppressed, hungry and experiencing homelessness. Open our hearts and hands to the needs of others.
Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
Amen.
ELCA World Hunger

Holy God, as you have accompanied your people through times of captivity, wilderness, and exile, shelter and sustain all those who flee persecution, oppression, warfare, violence, hunger, and poverty. Open our hearts and homes, our gates and doors, so that they find safety, peace, and welcome — a place to live in freedom and without fear; through Jesus Christ, our refuge and our hope.
Amen.
All Creation Sings

“En este mundo por doquier habrá gente que llora y sin consolar. Sea que ayudemos o que alimentemos, somos del Señor.” / “Across this wide world, we shall always find those who are crying with no peace of mind; and when we help them, or when we feed them, we belong to God.”
(“Pues Si Vivimos”/“When We Are Living,” ELW 639)

“You satisfy the hungry heart with gift of finest wheat. Come give to us, O saving Lord, the bread of life to eat. You give yourself to us, O Lord; then selfless let us be, to serve each other in your name in truth and charity.”
(“You Satisfy the Hungry Heart,” ELW 484)