Bread for the World Offering of Letters – An Invitation from Paul Manganiello

Posted on by Our Savior Lutheran Church and Campus Ministry

On Sunday, March 3, 2024, Paul Manganiello spoke during worship and invited participation in this year’s Bread for the World Offering of Letters.

Sunday was the kick-off of our annual Bread for the World (BFW) Offering of Letters (OofL)! OSLC is a Covenant Church with BFW, an ecumenical advocacy movement founded by the New York City Lutheran pastor Art Simon in the 70’s. This year’s OofL relates to the Federal Farm Bill.

The Farm Bill is usually re-authorized every 5 years. It was to be finalized in 2023, but a new Bill has not been formally enacted, so the 2018 Bill is being extended until an updated Bill is completed. The Farm Bill impacts every one of us in the US, anyone who sells, buys, or eats food. It also impacts those facing hunger internationally.

The Farm Bill covers specific areas of interest called chapters. The 4 major chapters include: 1st nutrition, 2nd crop insurance, 3rd commodities, and 4th conservation.

80% of the projected budget spending involves nutritional programs such as: SNAP (the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program); the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program; The Senior’s Farmer’s Market Nutritional Programs; The Community Food Projects; and the Gus Schumacker Nutritional Program (GusNIP).

SNAP supplies nutritional assistance to millions of Americans serving more than 40M individuals. It is the most effective tool to reduce hunger insecurity; GusNIP enhances SNAP providing benefits to purchase fruits and vegetables.

BFW is advocating for measures that will not only enhance nutrition but also assure equity and sustainability in the US and around the world.

Usually, we hold our Offering of Letters after the Easter Season, but this year we were encouraged to do it sooner. Lent is really a perfect opportunity to advocate for those who may not be able to advocate for themselves. All too often the season of lent becomes a “self-improvement project” giving up chocolate, alcohol, or some other vice. We might want to reconsider, rather than taking a negative approach, doing something positive for someone else. The simple act of writing to our elected officials, encouraging them to bring about public policy to enhance a sustainable, equitable Farm Bill will benefit all of us.

Because of delays in mail getting to our legislators, due to security screening, they are suggesting that they be sent electronically. All the information can be found here.

Also, please email me or Wendy when you have sent your letters so we can contact the national BFW office in DC.

Paul Manganiello

Bread For the World 2024 Offering of Letters

Posted on by Our Savior Lutheran Church and Campus Ministry

As people of faith, we are called to give of our time, talent, and treasure for a greater purpose. Bread for the World invites you to use your voice to help end hunger.

Every year, Bread for the World (BFW) organizes churches, community organizations, and people of faith from across the country to write letters and emails to their members of Congress who have the power to impact the policies and programs that can end hunger.

By taking part in Bread for the World’s 2024 Offering of Letters, you will help support domestic and international nutrition programs that offer a hand up to families and a brighter future for children.

Your letter matters. Your letter, joined with the voices of thousands of advocates across the country, is an expression of faith and hope, urging U.S. decision makers to pursue a world without hunger. God uses these letters to change hearts and minds, and again and again, Bread for the World wins help and opportunity for our neighbors who face hunger.

How to participate in BFW’s 2024 Offering of Letters

Visit www.bread.org/offering-letters/ and scroll down to and click the WRITE NOW link. Then it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!

Step 1: Look up your elected officials – Just fill in your information and the elected officials will populate.

Step 2:  Check the box that says, “Yes, this is an Offering of Letters” and enter “Our Savior Lutheran Church, Hanover, NH.”

Step 3: Write Your Message: The information is already prewritten and you can personalize it.

For more information there are additional down-loadable resources, videos, and more at www.bread.org/offering-letters.

Once you’ve written your letter, please email Wendy or Paul Manganiello that you’ve participated in this year’s offering of letters. Thank you!

2023 Bread for the World Offering of Letters

Posted on by Our Savior Lutheran Church and Campus Ministry

Below is the text of a talk delivered by Paul Manganiello during worship on May 14, 2023. Visit bread.org/farmbill to start the BFW electronic letter which you can personalize. It is simple and quick. When you do contact your legislators, please let Paul Manganiello, Wendy Manganiello, or the church office know so that we can contact BFW’s Washington office. 

Good morning! For our visitors and new members, my name is Paul Manganiello, I am a member of OSLC and am on the Social Ministry Committee. Welcome to our annual Bread for the World (BFW) Offering of letters! OSLC is a Covenant Church with BFW, an ecumenical advocacy movement founded by the New York City Lutheran pastor Art Simon in the 70’s.  

In working for social justice, religious communities need to not only encourage personal acts of charity such as volunteering or financially supporting our non-profit charitable organizations but also work for justice to address the root causes which perpetuate generational poverty, such as the wealth gap; inadequate educational opportunities and job skills; unsafe “ghettoized” communities; etc. 

BFW helps us to speak up and speak out to support those who suffer from systemic poverty. 

Continue reading 2023 Bread for the World Offering of Letters

2022 Bread for the World Offering of Letters

Posted on by Our Savior Lutheran Church and Campus Ministry

As Christians, we are called to seek justice, care for those experiencing hunger and poverty, and embrace our Creator’s vision of hope, love, and peace. We are called to embody it in public as we commit to live in solidarity with those who are made vulnerable by the inequities that drive hunger and poverty in the United States and around the world.

Letters are a strong witness of community concerns and personal testimonies. Over the years, letters and emails from congregations, campuses, and community groups have helped inspire our leaders in Washington, D.C., to pass legislative victories that reduce hunger in the U.S. and around the world.

This year, Bread for the World is asking for your help urging legislators to permanently expand the Child Tax Credit (CTC). Expanding the CTC permanently would do more to reduce hunger and poverty among our nation’s children than any single policy has in decades.

Here’s how you can make a difference:

  1. Read this fact sheet to learn about the impact of the Child Tax Credit.
  2. Watch the brief video below from Bread for World.
  3. Act – click here to take action by emailing your members of Congress to help end hunger today! If you prefer to handwrite your letter, you can find a sample letter here and addresses here. Bring your written letters to church and we’ll offer them in worship on Sunday, May 29th before mailing them.
  4. Contact Paul or Wendy Manganiello, OSLC’s Offering of Letter organizers, to let them know you’ve submitted your letter.

Bread for the World Offering of Letters

Posted on by Our Savior Lutheran Church and Campus Ministry

As people of faith, we know that we are called to care for one another. We are called to speak out for all those in need, especially our children. What is critically needed now is our unified voice assuring that people receive the help they desperately need now. By participating in this year’s Bread for the World (BFW) Offering of Letters you will make a difference, not just to Bread for the World, but to those who experience hunger and poverty. 

Continue reading Bread for the World Offering of Letters

“Better Nutrition, Better Tomorrow!” Bread for the World Offering of Letters

Posted on by Our Savior Lutheran Church and Campus Ministry

Our Savior Lutheran Church is a Covenant Church with the Bread for the World (BFW) movement. BFW currently is ecumenical in scope; but was started by a Lutheran Pastor in New York City, in the early 70s. BFW asks us to communicate with our legislators about hunger related issues throughout the year, but each year they focus on one particular issue, for an annual Offering of Letters

Reading the news, it is hard to imagine that progress has been made in reducing global poverty and hunger, but they have literally been cut, nearly in half over the past 30 years. In countries such as Ghana and Honduras, one of the effects of chronic malnutrition, developmental stunting, has been reduced by nearly 1/3rd over the past 10 years!! This has been accomplished by emphasizing good nutrition during the first 1,000 days of a mother’s pregnancy through her child’s second birthday.

But the work is not done, and we don’t want to lose the gains we have made, since worldwide nearly half of all the childhood deaths are linked to malnutrition. Continue reading “Better Nutrition, Better Tomorrow!” Bread for the World Offering of Letters