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LDS Church gives largest single donation to fight global hunger

By Genelle Pugmire - | Sep 15, 2022

Courtesy Intellectual Reserve

Representatives from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the World Food Programme discuss a donation the Church made to WFP on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, at WFP headquarters in Rome, Italy.

With countries around the world suffering from extreme drought and famine, the United Nations World Food Programme is in need of emergency help.

On Thursday, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced it had given the World Food Programme $32 million — the faith’s largest one-time contribution to a humanitarian organization — to help fight what the WFP calls a “seismic hunger crisis,” according to a church press release.

The donated funds will provide food and emergency support to 1.6 million people in nine nations, according to the church.

During a visit on Wednesday at the World Food Programme’s headquarters in Rome, Bishop L. Todd Budge of the Presiding Bishopric presented the donation to WFP USA President and CEO Barron Segar and WFP Deputy Executive Director of Partnerships and Advocacy Ute Klamert.

“We are so grateful to collaborate with the World Food Programme because we know they will get food to those who need it most,” Budge said. “And we thank Latter-day Saints and friends of the faith whose financial sacrifices have made this gift possible. Such giving makes God’s children a little happier and all of us a little holier.”

The WFP will use the Church’s funds to provide food and other critical assistance to the most vulnerable people — including mothers and young children — in: Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Kenya, northeast Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen.

“This extraordinary donation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints could not come at a more critical time,” said WFP Executive Director David Beasley in a release. “With millions of people starving today, WFP is working hard to deliver food, help and hope — and this life-saving contribution allows us to do just that.”

WFP’s work alongside governments and partners like the LDS Church, is a critical lifeline for many. Millions of families rely on the organization’s food, nutrition and livelihood support across the nine nations receiving aid.

“At this time of unprecedented global need, we are grateful for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ transformational gift,” Segar said. “Private sector support is critical to our mission, enabling WFP to scale food assistance and resilience work that brings families stability and comfort during these challenging times. I am confident that the Church’s gift will inspire others to join our movement to end global hunger.”

A record 345 million people face acute food insecurity, with 50 million on the brink of famine. Without immediate action, some 60 million children will be at risk of acute malnourishment by the end of 2022. The worldwide ripple effect of the war in Ukraine, compounded by widespread conflict, extreme weather and the socioeconomic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, is pushing already vulnerable people into utter desperation, according to the church

“My heart rejoices for the millions of malnourished children who will benefit from this donation,” said Sister Camille N. Johnson, global leader of the faith’s Relief Society, in the release. “Jesus has a tender heart for children. He weeps to see them starve. And He rejoices at even the smallest effort to help them. A huge thanks to the World Food Programme and to all who contribute in any way to this cause.”

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