World Hunger Team Mission Statement

Keeping with Christ’s commandment to love one another, the Virginia Synod World Hunger Team’s mission is to educate, facilitate, and encourage congregations to engage in aspects of hunger and poverty elimination both domestic and international.

(Author – Ann Davison)

As of 2023, approximately 11.1% of Virginians or one in nine individuals experience food insecurity, meaning they lack consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. Among children, the rate is even higher at 13.6%, equating to over 252,000 children facing hunger across the Commonwealth.

The average cost of a meal in Virginia has risen to $4.06, a 34% increase since 2017, and higher than the national average of $3.99. This escalation contributes to an annual food budget shortfall of over $736 million for food-insecure households in the state.

While Virginia’s overall poverty rate stands at 10.2%, disparities persist. For instance, the city of Richmond reports a poverty rate of 17.1%, significantly higher than the state average.

These statistics underscore the ongoing challenges many Virginians face in securing adequate nutrition, highlighting the critical role of food banks and community support systems in addressing hunger.

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Pasta with a purpose is a fun and joyful way for congregations to respond to the growing food insecurity in our communities. The pasta offering should be collected anytime during the months of June, July and August as these are typically months when food pantry donations are down. There will be two collection entries: one prior to July 20, and the final on God’s Work Our Hands day September 6th.

More information on how to get involved is coming soon.

Be an advocate for hunger prevention initiatives by joining the Virginia Synod World Hunger Team. We meet virtually each month to share resources and ideas on how our congregations can respond to God’s call to serve those in need. Contact Betsy Liljeberg at b4liljeberg@gmail.com.

The Virginia Synod Hunger Committee wants to emphasize months or days during the year that have connections to hunger issues. Each month we will provide you with some important facts, prayer petitions, and an activity that your congregation can do to observe the event. The information will be posted monthly on this page. Click on the “+” next to the month you are interested in and the section will expand to display the information on that month. Please feel free to share this information in your newsletters and or bulletins.

You can download the calendar showing Hunger Observance Days using the buttons below.