Damon LaakerRev. Dr. Damon Laaker
Director, Lutheran Metro Ministry
Nebraska Synod, ELCA

Lutheran Metro Ministry, following Jesus’ example, ministers to the basic needs of human beings in the city. One of those basic needs is the need for food. Many people in the city and around the world lack adequate food.

The Omaha Food Bank reports that the need for food assistance continues to grow in ways that stretch its resources to the limit. Kountze Memorial reported that at their pantry in the month of July they served up almost 1,650 bags of groceries to those in need. Project Hope and Lutheran Pantry continue to see the requests for pantry assistance grow.

Investigative reporter Sasha Abramsky writes in Breadline USA, “Twenty-five million Americans—nearly 9 percent of the U.S. population - rely on food pantries. Another 13 million aren’t linked to a food distribution network, and 14 million children are at risk of going hungry on any given day. Moreover, the faltering economy is increasing the number of American families that don’t know where their next meals are coming from.”

Sasha Abramsky treats this crisis not only as matter of failed policies, but also as a portrait of real human suffering. He focuses attention on the people behind the statistics—the families caught up in circumstances beyond their control. Breadline USA is a vivid reminder of the fate to which many more Americans may be subject without urgent action.

During the 2008 campaign, Barack Obama announced a goal of of ending childhood hunger in America by the year 2015. Since taking office, President Obama, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and other members of the Administration have reiterated that commitment.

The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) has set out seven essential strategies in “Ending Childhood Hunger by 2015: The Essential Strategies for Achieving the President’s Goal.” They focus both on improving and expanding the nation’s nutrition programs, and bolstering the economy and strengthening supports for working families in order to move more out of poverty, the root cause of hunger in this country.

In brief, the seven strategies are:

  • Restore economic growth and create jobs with better wages for lower-income workers.
  • Raise the incomes of the lowest-income families.
  • Strengthen the SNAP/Food Stamp Program.
  • Strengthen Child Nutrition Programs.
  • Engage the entire federal government in ending childhood hunger.
  • Work with states, localities and nonprofits to expand and improve participation in federal nutrition programs.
  • Make sure all families have convenient access to reasonably priced, healthy food.

More information on the strategies can be found on the FRAC website.

“As a nation, we can and must reach this critically important goal of eradicating childhood hunger,” said Jim Weill, FRAC president. “President Obama made this a campaign pledge and his administration has re-committed itself to making sure all children are well fed each day. That will also mean healthier, better educated children with brighter futures. This paper outlines a realistic strategy for accomplishing the goal.”

“The Obama Administration takes the 2015 commitment seriously, and it is incumbent on the rest of us – members of Congress, governors, other public officials, anti-hunger advocates, faith-based institutions, child advocates, business, labor, and service providers – to do so as well,” Weill said.

All of this suggests that we have much to do to meet the needs in the city. However, beyond the city, we have much to do in advocating for policies that address food security issues on a national and global scale. I would hope that we might follow Jesus’ example and do all we can to minister to the basic needs of human beings.

Print