Youngchurch:

Feeding the hungry

Youth raise awareness of hunger issues

Through service projects, ELCA youth raise awareness in their communities and congregations about the needs of hungry people.

Youth at Zion Lutheran, Elgin, Ill., gave its community a visual reminder of hunger by hammering 1,209 crosses into the church’s front lawn. The crosses represented the number of people worldwide who die of hunger each hour.

The event was part of the youths’ participation in the “30 Hour Famine,” sponsored by World Vision, a relief organization.

Avery Blenner, a confirmand at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Marietta, Ga., sorts moneythat will be used to buy livestock for hungrypeople. Their gift will keep on giving becauserecipients of Heifer International’s livestock agree to share the animals’ offspring with others in need.

During the 30-hour fast, Zion’s youthraised their awareness of hunger issues and learned about ministries such as the ELCA World Hunger Appeal, Bread for the World and CROP Walk.

At Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Boise, Idaho, the J-Team (Jesus Team) meets monthly to focus on helping in the community. Their hunger projects include participating in the Crop Walk. The fourth- through sixth-graders also put their green thumbs to work. Member LaVonne Wiseman donated her garden to the J-Team for the summer. They grew 200 pounds of vegetables for the Idaho Food Bank.

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