For more than 30 years, the World Hunger Fund has provided a way for Brethren in Christ churches and individuals in North America to extend a “cup of cold water” to their global neighbors. As the name of the fund implies, it was originated in response to hunger issues in countries where the Brethren in Christ Church has a presence. Over the years, the purpose of the World Hunger Fund has expanded to include a wider range of relief assistance, including flood recovery, school supplies, and housing.
The World Hunger Fund challenges Brethren in Christ in North America to review our lifestyles so that we can direct more resources toward hunger relief and other benevolence programs. Recognizing that the hope we have in Christ is lived out in service to one another, we respond with gifts that encourage and support our sisters and brothers around the world.
How World Hunger Funds are distributed
When gifts come to the World Hunger Fund in the U.S. without a project designation, 50 percent of the funds are forwarded to Mennonite Central Committee. The remaining 50 percent supports BIC-specific projects around the world.
In the case of gifts that are designated by the donor for a specific project (e.g., India flooding, Family to Family), 100 percent of the funds are forwarded to the appropriate national conference/churches for distribution. Overhead costs associated with the World Hunger Fund are covered through Cooperative Ministries in the U.S. and the Compassionate Ministries Team in Canada.
2009-2010 World Hunger Fund projects
2009 giving to the World Hunger Fund
In 2009, more than $255,000 was distributed by the World Hunger Fund, as follows:
- $88,479 (U.S. and Can.) designated to the Family to Family, Village to Village initiative
- $61,658 (U.S.) to Zimbabwe (including $55,000 for hunger relief)
- $15,500 (Can.) to Mozambique for HIV/AIDS and orphan assistance
- $15,000 (U.S.) to Honduras for housing relief
- $10,012 (U.S.) to India for SPICE program (designated gifts)
- $9,000 (U.S.) to Zambia for hunger relief
- $8,000 (Can.) to Mennonite Central Committee for Kenya hunger relief
- $8,000 (Can.) to Mennonite Central Committee's Sudan: Coming Home project
- $6,000 (Can.) to Mennonite Central Committee for Sudan hunger relief
- $6,000 (Can.) to Mennonite Central Committee for southern Asia disaster relief
- $5,400 (U.S.) to India for flood relief
- $5,000 (U.S.) to Malawi and Mozambique for hunger relief
- $4,200 (Can.) to Mennonite Central Committee for Ethiopia food aid
- $4,800 (Can.) to India (Orissa) for food/shelter/medical assistance
- $4,500 (Can.) to Zimbabwe for food and medical assistance
- $2,500 (Can.) to Malawi for HIV/AIDS and orphan assistance
- $1,600 (Can.) to Zimbabwe for the Ladies' Sewing Circle (designated gifts)
- $100 (Can.) to southern Asia for disaster relief (designated gifts)
- $100 (Can.) to India (Orissa) for relief
For U.S. churches and individuals: Gifts in support of the World Hunger Fund can be mailed to the Brethren in Christ Church Offices at 431 Grantham Rd, PO Box A, Grantham, PA 17027. If giving by check, please make it out to "General Conference of the Brethren in Christ, Inc.," and mark "World Hunger Fund" on the memo line of the check. Gifts can also be made online.
For Canadian churches and individuals: Checks should be made out to the “Canadian Conference of the Brethren in Christ Church ” and sent directly to the Canadian Conference of the BIC Church: 2700 Bristol Circle, Oakville, ON L6H 6E1. Please specify “World Hunger Fund.”
