Bread Activists on the Ground in Oklahoma
by Keaton Andreas.
It is critical that we raise our collective voice on behalf of poor and hungry people as Congress debates funding for anti-poverty programs, which is exactly what a Bread for the World Covenant Church did this past Saturday.
Hunger was the topic of discussion this weekend at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Warr Acres, Okla. The Covenant Church hosted the forum “Fighting Hunger in Oklahoma.”
Oklahoma is the fifth hungriest state in the United States, with 47,871 families living in extreme poverty (less than $11,057 a year for a family of four) and a poverty rate for children under five of nearly 28 percent.
Oklahoma’s Representative Frank Lucas is influential as the chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture. The committee reauthorizes the Farm Bill which sets the rules and funding levels for SNAP so Lucas needs to hear from his constituents that it is a program they will fight for.
For the faithful, advocating for the hungry doesn’t stop at a border. Participants also discussed the need to protect poverty focused foreign assistance programs including the 1,000 days movement which can save more than 1 million lives by focusing on adequate nutrition during the 1,000-day window from pregnancy to age two.
Participants signed letters which will be delivered to the offices of Rep. Lucas, Senator Inhofe, and Senator Coburn.
Watch coverage of the event from KOKH-TV:
http://www.okcfox.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/kokh_vid_6138.shtml
Big thanks to Torri Christian with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, Becky Van Pool with Catholic Charities, Linda Clark and Margaret Phipps with St. Charles Catholic Church of OKC, and Susan Lee of Epiphany Catholic Church—who were all instrumental in making this event happen.
Resources
- For more information on setting up a forum in your area, contact your regional organizer.
- To learn more about the circle of protection campaign visit our Offering of Letters website.
Keaton Andreas is a regional organizer (lead organizer for Oklahoma) for Bread for the World.
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Yes, this is so important... No one should be hungry. Not anywhere...
Posted by: Christine Howard on August 14, 2012 at 11:08 AM