offering-of-letters-campaign-overview - Flipbook - Page 3
Join as a collective voice to urge Congress to pass legislation that provides nutrition for vulnerable people here and abroad. This sample letter
will help you, your church, or community group send handwritten letters
or personalized emails to your representatives and senators in Congress.
Follow these easy, quick steps for an effective letter:
1. Ask for a specific action, using your own words or this sentence:
“I urge you to increase funding to reduce global malnutrition” and/or
“I urge you to fund domestic nutrition programs so children can have
the food they need to grow and thrive.”
2. Give reasons for your request and make it personal.
• Share a personal reason or story that motivated you to write.
• Show your own organization’s commitment: “My church is
helping by [example]. But, I also urge you to pass legislation that
provides nutrition for the most vulnerable in the U.S. and abroad,
especially mothers and children.”
3. Write your name and address at the end of your letter and on the envelope,
so your members of Congress know you are one of their constituents.
4. Send your letters to Congress; please don’t mail them to Bread for the
World. If you are mailing your letters, put letters to each member of
Congress in a separate envelope and address it (see below). To send a
personalized email, visit bread.org/ol.
Send your handwritten letters to:
Sen. ________________ Rep. ___________________
U.S. Senate
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515
5. Report back and let us know if you or your church have written letters or sent emails at bread.org/reportback.
PRAYERS FOR YOUR
OFFERING OF LETTERS
“Speak out for those who cannot speak,
for the rights of all the destitute. Speak
out, judge righteously, defend the rights
of the poor and needy.” (Proverbs 31:8-9)
Prayer before the writing of letters:
O God, may these letters be a voice for
justice, which repairs the devastations of
poverty; for liberty, which extends to the
captives of malnutrition; for the healing,
which binds up the broken-bodied and
the broken-hearted; for the bread that
nourishes all who experience hunger;
for the good news of love, which is
stronger than death, and for the peace
that strengthens communities and
families. Together, may we speak out as
a collective voice for justice. Amen.
Prayer for the dedication of letters:
SAMPLE LETTER
[Date] Dear Senator _____, or Dear Representative _____,
I urge you to make strong investments in nutrition programs
for the most vulnerable in the U.S. and abroad, especially
mothers and children.
Federal nutrition programs help U.S. families lead healthy lives.
Congress should increase funding for the Summer EBT program
so more children can access nutritious food during the summer
months—the hungriest time of the year for children.
I also urge you to support legislation that strengthens U.S.
leadership on global nutrition and increases funding for global
nutrition programs. Too many children globally are malnourished
and suffer from stunting. Stunting affects physical and cognitive
development.
My faith calls me to stand alongside women and children
around the world. Our government should provide leadership
toward a well-nourished world.
Sincerely,
[your name]
[your address]
[city, state, ZIP]
Joseph Molieri for Bread for the World
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
WRITE TO CONGRESS
For the most current version of this sample letter, updated
as legislation moves in Congress, visit bread.org/ol.
God of Shalom, we offer these letters
as tokens of our love and stewardship.
May each letter be a voice speaking
up for all who suffer the ravages of
malnutrition, hunger, and war. We speak
out for mothers and children—families
that experience hunger in the U.S. and
globally. We ask that you multiply these
letters until our voices swell into one
great chorus echoing through the halls
of government and throughout the land,
calling forth a reordering of priorities in
our nation and our world, and moving us
closer to your reign of justice and peace.
We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
These prayers are adapted from the
Banquet of Praise, a book of worship
resources, hymns, and songs by
Bread for the World.
Additional resources for your 2020 Offering of Letters are available at bread.org/ol.