Write A Letter To George

Write a Letter to George

Over the holidays, there is always an outpouring of benevolence toward people suffering from hunger. What can people do to go beyond charity and put an end to hunger? While short-term emergency assistance is needed and critical, steps must be taken at the same time to end the root cause of hunger, poverty.

In 1989, Bread For The World (BFW), a hunger issues organization, will again work to pass legislation that will help end hunger in the U.S. and other nations. BFW's major project will be working to increase funding for the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). The WIC program supplies highly nutritional food and health counseling to pregnant women and young children. However, it is presently funded to serve only 50% of those eligible.

Other legislative goals of BFW in 1989 include: providing employment for those who can work, at wages adequate to lift workers out of poverty; reducing the U.S. emphasis on military solutions to international problems; finding new ways to distribute development aid (i.e., through grassroots organizations); and taking steps to reduce the problem of Third World debt.

Bread For The World is encouraging people to write to George Bush urging him to make ending hunger a priority in his administration. Letters should include the following points: no child should go to bed hungry; programs benefitting children should be expanded; jobs which pay a fair wage must be created; our contribution to armed conflict must be reduced by cutting arms spending/military aid; and we must find solutions to relieve Third World debt.

Short, simple, handwritten letters (which should take about 3-5 minutes to write) are very much needed and can be sent to: Bush Campaign, Attn: Bill Quinby, 733 15th Street NW, Suite 800, Washington D.C. 20005.

PURPOSE: Bread For The World is a national citizen's lobbying organization that deals with hunger and health-related legislation. It has chapters in all 50 states, including one locally. Although BFW does not send direct aid itself, it has given, through its members, crucial support to domestic and international hunger programs since its founding in 1971 . Members are encouraged to contact their legislators on hunger issues, and are kept informed through newsletters, background papers, and informational meetings about pertinent legislation.

VOLUNTEERS: Bread For The World locally is very much in need of volunteers to help with letter writing drives in connection with efforts to increase WIC funding. If you can help, please attend the monthly meetings or call 487-9058.

MEETINGS : Bread For The World meets on the fourth Tuesday of every month (next meeting, Jan. 24) at the Memorial Christian Church, 730 Tappan, Ann Arbor, at 7:30 p.m.

Bread For The World, 706 Dwight St., Ypsilanti, Ml 48198, 487-9058.