Giving

Coffee with a Lutheran Flavor

Lutheran World Relief and Equal Exchange are proud to announce a new coffee line from the LWR Coffee Project.

Through the LWR Coffee Project, a partnership between Lutheran World Relief and Equal Exchange, Lutherans can enjoy delicious fairly traded products while supporting small-scale farmers across the world. Farmers earn a fair price for their crops, have access to affordable credit, and can invest in education, health care and sustainable agriculture, building a better future for their families.

In addition, for all fairly traded coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar, and snacks purchased through the LWR Coffee Project, Equal Exchange gives $.20 per pound back to Lutheran World Relief for projects supporting small-scale coffee farmers.
Lutheran World Relief works with partners in 35 countries to help people grow food, improve health, strengthen communities, end conflict, build livelihoods and recover from disasters.

Equal Exchange is a democratically organized worker-owned co-operative dedicated to building a new model of trade based on fairness, environmental sustainability and strong relationships between farmers and consumers.

They also have tea, cocoa and snacks.

For more information or to place an order, please visit www.lwrcoffee.com or 744-776-7340.


From Congregation to Congressman
Advocating for Those Who Are Hungry

For members of the Lutheran Church of the Reformation in West Long Branch, N.J., responding to hunger in their neighborhood is part of their weekly activities. So, too, is partnering with ELCA World Hunger to help around the world. Moved by the stories of families and children who regularly come to the church for food assistance, six members of the congregation met with State Representative Frank Pallone (pictured right) last spring. Church members discussed their food pantry ministry and urged the congressman to weigh in on hunger issues at the state House of Representatives and with his colleagues.

One of the six members from the congregation, Mary Appleton, said, “It was really inspiring to go with that group of people and talk to [the congressman].” As a result of the meeting, Pallone participated in a press event at the state House of Representatives in May, which attracted great media attention toward childhood hunger.

Gifts to ELCA World Hunger have helped to support organizations that create such events, providing a way that the voice of those who are hungry and the church that stands with them can be heard. In this case the coordination was through the New Jersey Anti-Hunger Coalition (NJAHC), an organization that receives a grant from ELCA World Hunger.

Bruce Davidson, director of the Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministry in New Jersey, talked about the way in which the voluntary service of the church brings credibility and integrity to the discussion with elected officials. “They really appreciate the fact that we help to raise awareness for better nutrition programs for children. We help them understand that these programs are an effective way to end childhood hunger if they are funded and administered well.”

In addition to helping with direct feeding, long-term development and education, a portion of your gifts to ELCA World Hunger provides grants that help the church and its partners speak up about what they are seeing when it comes to hunger and encourage positive action by government. Through advocacy, ELCA members work to overcome the effects and root causes of hunger. In many ways, the resources of government guided by the voices of those who work to address hunger can make amazing changes in the lives of communities.

“People respond to what they see in their own communities, and it’s easy to get our congregations to support hunger issues,” said Davidson. Regarding the efforts of Appleton and the other Reformation Lutheran members, he said, “It was a congregation-wide advocacy effort.” In addition to those who visited the congressman and those who prepared messages on lunch bags, many different groups in the congregation got involved by praying. “This is faith-based advocacy at its best.”

www.elca.org