Bread for the World helps Detroit hungry

By ERIN MORAN

Staff Writer

The battle to end hunger cannot be won by soup kitchens and food banks alone.  Active groups focused on education and legislation must also be on the front lines.

Bread for the World is a national hunger education and legislative action group that seeks to bring about change by writing, calling and visiting those in high government offices. It is a non-partisan citizens movement of 45,000 people concerned with advancing justice for hungry people that has raised hundreds of millions of dollars each year for anti-poverty efforts.  

COURTESY PHOTO   Parishioners write letters after service for the "Offering of Letters."

Local groups of Bread for the World are established with the same boundaries as congressional districts.  Consequently, seven of these are found in southeastern Michigan.

Bob Krzewinski, a resident of Ypsilanti, has been a member of this organization since 1985.  He joined because of the principles the group was founded on.

"The group was founded in New York City by a man named Art Simon who felt that volunteering in shelters was helpful but that more needed to be done," says Krzewinksi.  "Taking the issues straight to the decision makers in Washington was definitely an aspect I was interested in."

The organization is involved with the plight of hunger on several levels. The group is affiliated with a variety of churches, and many volunteer through these churches at food banks and shelters.  The group is focused on educating communities about the issue through newsletters, interfaith council letters and direct mailers.

"Finding an end to hunger means knowing who is affected and taking steps to solve the problem," says Krzewinski.  "Education is the key."

Detroit, like many large cities in the United States, has its share of residents who are hungry. The unemployed or those who earn less than $10,000 in annual household income commonly require meal assistance.  However, others in need include senior citizens on a fixed income, individuals who come from single-parent homes and the ill or disabled.  A study conducted by the Wayne State University Center for Urban Studies found most of these people had to choose between medical assistance and food.

While those who volunteer in food banks, soup kitchens and homeless shelters certainly help serve the needs of those in the community, it is not enough. The combined effort of volunteering, crusading and educating that Bread for the World employs must be applied to beat poverty and hunger in our communities.