Dear partners and friends of ELCA World Hunger,

As you have experienced firsthand, the past several months have been extremely taxing on church ministries as we navigate the pandemic and its impact on communities. In response to COVID-19 and the increasing need for direct support of communities facing hunger, ELCA World Hunger officially launched Daily Bread Matching Grants this past spring. Two hundred congregational feeding ministries from around the country received access to tools for online fundraising and an accompanying grant. Altogether, participating congregations raised more than double the total amount awarded in grants!

With gratitude for the strong positive response by participants and donors to the ELCA’s COVID-19 Response Fund, ELCA World Hunger is happy to announce another round of Daily Bread Matching Grants taking place this fall! Applications will be accepted beginning Oct. 1, with the fundraising event scheduled for November.

More than 300 Daily Bread Matching Grants will be available for ELCA congregations on a first-come, first-served basis. However, priority will be given to congregations that were unable to participate in the last cycle due to capacity, and to congregations that are members of ELCA ethnic-specific and multicultural ministry networks or are priority congregations as identified by synods.

Congregations that have previously received a Daily Bread Matching Grant are not eligible to reapply. If your congregation has already benefited from a Daily Bread Matching Grant, please share this opportunity with a neighbor or partner congregation!

How it works:

Visit ELCA.org/dailybread to learn more and apply.

ELCA World Hunger is continuing to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in a variety of ways.

• ELCA Advocacy is monitoring developments in legislation related to COVID-19 at the federal level and providing ways for people to connect with their elected officials. Visit ELCA.org/advocacy to learn more and to sign up for e-alerts about public policies important to you and your community.

• We have provided, and will continue to provide, information to help you and your communities stay informed. The ELCA World Hunger blog’s “Tips for Responding to Hunger in a Pandemic” offers best practices and suggestions for leaders, volunteers and supporters of feeding ministries. In addition, the ELCA provides regular updates on our church’s COVID-19 response at https://elca.org/publichealth.

• A feedback form is available at http://bit.ly/ELCAWorldHungerFeedback for you to share your stories of hope with the wider church and to let the churchwide staff of ELCA World Hunger know how we can best support you. You can also share your creative and courageous practices, ask questions or offer feedback by emailing Hunger@ELCA.org.

We are grateful for the opportunity to continue walking with congregations as they respond to the needs of their communities. Although these are difficult times, ministries like yours continue to inspire hope through your creativity and commitment to spreading God’s love and abundance.

Until all are fed,

The ELCA World Hunger Team