This blog stands for Epicureanism, which was subjected to slander and calumny by early Christians. But the history should not stand in the way of appreciating the generous and giving side of Christianity. I asked Asma Lateef, Director of the Bread for the World Institute to describe the work of that charity in addressing hunger. This is only one of many religious charities, and the activities of various hierarchies should not overshadow the good works. This is what she sent me:

Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice made up of activists urging the nation’s leaders to end hunger at home and abroad. What started in 1972 as a small group of Catholics and Protestants gathering to discuss how people of faith could be mobilized into a nonpartisan, national advocacy movement, quickly outgrew its humble beginnings. Today, hundreds of thousands of Bread members take part in advocacy actions including writing personal letters and emails to their representatives and meeting with members of Congress.
As a non-profit, Bread works in a bipartisan way to help change policies, programs, and conditions that allow hunger and poverty to persist. A network of thousands of individual members, churches, and denominations ensures Bread’s presence in all U.S. congressional districts.

We believe that by making our voices heard in Congress, we make our nation’s laws more fair and compassionate to people in need. Due to Bread’s efforts, Congress has improved policies and increased funding for programs that fight hunger and poverty worldwide multiple times.

In 2011-2012, working with our coalition partners, we managed to forestall major cuts to programs that protect hungry and poor people. After more than $2 trillion in deficit cuts, and proposals that would have devastated programs like SNAP and international development assistance, 2012 ended on a fiscal cliff. But the deal achieved and approved in the last hours of the 112th Congress protected programs for hungry and poor people and generated new revenues for deficit reduction over the next ten years. But the fiscal cliff deal also delayed some major budget decisions, so these programs are still vulnerable as Congress looks for additional deficit reduction. That is why on Friday, March 1, Bread for the World will launch its 2013 Offering of Letters campaign, A Place at the Table. This campaign has three components: education about hunger in America through the Participant Media movie A Place at the Table-to be released in theaters and online on March 1; continued advocacy with Congress to maintain the circle of protection around anti-hunger and poverty programs; and a petition to urge President Obama to set a goal to end hunger in America and around the world and work with Congress to enact a plan.

We are encouraging Bread members, friends and family to make a special effort to see the movie during its first weekend. We hope that it will help raise awareness among millions of Americans about hunger in this country. P