Mission Statement:
To educate:
by providing resources and information to help raise the congregations awareness of and solutions to global hunger and poverty.
To empower:
by encouraging people to take action to eliminate hunger and poverty because we are God’s hands and feet in the world. This may involve giving of time, talent and creativity in promoting Hunger and Justice Issues, and planning for periodic fund raising for hunger.
To advocate:
by being a public witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, speaking on behalf of people in need, addressing inequities in political, economic and social systems. One such opportunity is Bread for the World’s program of writing letters to member of congress encouraging legislation that helps the poor and the hungry.
The hunger action team and the entire congregation celebrated Holy Cow Sunday July 10, 2016. Salem received the Holy Cow award for giving the most per confirmed member ($44.00) to world hunger in the entire Northeast MN Synod. Thanks to the congregation for their generosity in supporting projects like the malaria campaign when we raised over $3000, honoring a member’s 75th birthday when we raised over $1700 for the ELCA Good Gifts program, the Good Gifts program during the Christmas season and all those who gave offerings to world hunger. Thanks also to all those who participated in Bread for the World’s letter writing to members of congress encouraging support for legislation supportive of poor and hungry people. As a result of Bread for the World’s letter writing campaign congress passed two historic bills with bipartisan support. The Global Food Security Act (S. 1252) will fight hunger and malnutrition. The vote in congress was 369-53. This Act will benefit many of the more than 795 million chronically malnourished people, including nearly 160 million children. The House also passed the Foreign Aid and Transparency Accountability Act (H.R. 3766) which will require U.S. government agencies to consistently and rigorously monitor and evaluate assistance programs. President Obama signed both bills into law in late July, 2016.