In September, we come together to rally around food banks, support awareness around hunger and instill action among our advocates, legislators, anti-hunger friends, and YOU! Because together, we can end hunger.

More than 50 hunger advocates from across the state met at Spirit in the Desert on August 17 to discuss how we might collaboratively work to alleviate hunger in Arizona. Pictures and full report included.

After months of advocacy efforts, the Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act (H.R.4693) passed the House. Sen. Kelly has co-sponsored Bill S.2956; let’s urge Sen. Kyrsten Sinema to sign on as well. Sample letter included!

Proposals for funding are now being accepted for 2022 ELCA Hunger Education and Networking Grants! Cycle 2 grant applications due Dec. 1, 2022.

If you are interested in starting a feeding ministry, this guide will provide tips and strategies for planning, sourcing food, engaging volunteers and much more. If you are part of an existing feeding ministry, you will find ideas for growing, expanding or reimagining the work you are already doing.

This Community Gardens How-To Guide is filled with wisdom harvested by congregations whose community gardens have become vital parts of their ministry. 28-pg guide includes practical tips on logistics, crafting a vision and incorporating your garden into the life of your congregation. ELCA World Hunger.

Are you interested in working to alleviate hunger in Arizona? Your voice matters! If you have experience or interest in working with hunger advocates to strategize for the 2023 legislative session in Arizona, now is the time to make a difference.

Apply by July 31, 2022! Manna Grants are intended to support new and continuing projects in the Grand Canyon Synod that work to alleviate hunger and address the root causes of hunger, and which demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusion in leadership and decision-making.

Hunger advocates from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C. on June 6-7 for the 2022 Bread for the World Advocacy Summit. LAMA director Solveig Muus joined colleagues for the two days of worship, training, strategy, fellowship and advocacy on Capitol Hill. And signtseeing.

The Vitalyst Health Foundation announced on Friday that Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA) and its Arizona Hunger Policy Workgroup partners was awarded a 2022 SPARK Grant. The $20,000 grant was one of eleven SPARK Grants awarded by Vitalyst this year.

Faith Leaders Sign On by Friday, May 20: If Congress were to make the current $2,000 Child Tax Credit fully refundable and available to all low-income families, the number of children experiencing poverty would fall by an estimated 20 percent.

We once thought big about hunger. Can we do it again? Opinion by E. J. Dionne of The Washington Post.

Approved participants invite their congregation, networks and friends to donate to their hunger program; then, to kickstart campaigns, the funds raised are matched by ELCA World Hunger with a grant of $500. 

Urge U.S. Reps Tom O’Halleran (LD 1), Paul Gosar (LD 4), Andy Biggs (LD 5), David Schweikert (LD 6) and Debbie Lesko (LD 8) to cosponsor H.R.4693. Reps Kirkpatrick (LD 2), Grijalva (LD 3), Gallego (LD 7) and Stanton (LD 9) have already signed on. Urge Sens. Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema to cosponsor S.2956.

Are you interested in hosting a letter-writing campaign in your congregation? Bread for the World offers a powerful tool to organize letter-writing events to end hunger through advocacy.

If you are interested in representing the Grand Canyon Synod at the ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering in August, please contact Solveig at director@lamaz.org or the synod office by May 1.

Arizona Food Bank Network (AzFBN) and its member food banks hosted Food Bank Day at the Capitol on Thursday, March 10. Two initiatives took center stage: HB2060, the bill AzFBN and supporters promoted to remove barriers to SNAP access for people re-entering society; and Friends of the Farm, Arizona's farm-to-food-bank program supporting local growers and food insecure Arizonans. 

COMING SOON: Join ELCA World Hunger’s Global Farm Challenge, a youth-focused, whole-church campaign to accompany our neighbors who are facing threats of hunger and poverty around the world.