2012 Offering of Letters:

Expanding the

Circle of Protection

Bread for the World is:

Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation’s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. By changing

policies, programs, and conditions that allow hunger and poverty to

persist, we provide help and opportunity far beyond the

communities in which we live.

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• Christians across the nation uniting their voices.

• A unified voice that creates lasting change for hungry people.

• An opportunity to use the gift of living in a democracy.

An Offering of Letters is:

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Biblical Basis

If you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

- Isaiah 58:10

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2011: Outcomes

• Defended funding for domestic safety-net programs when one in five U.S. households struggles to get enough to eat.

• Protected funding for international aid programs that save lives and reduce poverty for the world’s neediest people.

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• Create a circle of protection around programs vital for hungry and poor people in the U.S. and abroad.

2012: The Goal

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Budget Realities

• Programs for low-income people did not cause the deficit.

• These programs stimulate local economies.

• We need to cut hunger, not hunger programs.

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Expanding the Circle of Protection:Mini-Campaigns

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Expanding the Circle of Protection:Overall Campaign

• Protect essential programs for low-income people, especially in difficult economic times.

• Raise congressional awareness about how helpful and effective these programs are.

• Create a strong national voice in support of programs for low-income people.

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Mini-Campaign

Nutrition Assistance

Create a circle of protection around funding for vital

domestic nutrition programs that meet the needs of

millions of American families.

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Mini-Campaign

Nutrition Assistance

• These programs work.• We need to support the

current benefit levels.• SNAP (formerly food

stamps) needs to be protected so it can continue to meet families’ needs.

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Mini-Campaign

Poverty-Focused Foreign Assistance

Create a circle of protection around funding for vital poverty-focused

foreign assistance programs that address the

root causes of poverty.

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Mini-Campaign

Poverty-Focused Foreign Assistance

• Protect funding for foreign

assistance.

• Support Feed the Future,

international development

• Maintain USAID’s staff

working capacity.

• Increase funding for 1,000

Days programs.

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Mini-Campaign

Tax Credits

Create a circle of protection around tax credits for low-

income families.

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Mini-Campaign

Tax Credits

• Pulls more children out of poverty than any other government program.

• Extend the current benefits for both EITC and CTC.

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Mini-Campaign

International Food Aid

Create a circle of protection around funding for

international food aid programs that serve as the greatest—and often only—

line of defense between millions of families and

hunger.

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Mini-Campaign

International Food Aid

• Protect funding for

international food aid

programs.

• Improve the nutritional

quality of food aid.

• Support local

agriculture.

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Letters to Congress

Key Components of a Letter

• Make it personal. What motivates you to write?

• Make it clear. “I want you to protect programs such as …”

• Include your return address on the letter and envelope.

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Tools & Resources

2012 Offering of Letters Websitewww.bread.org/ol

Stay current on the campaigns

Bread for the World Channelwww.youtube.com/breadfortheworld

2012 Hunger Report and Study Guidewww.hungerreport.org

Hunger Report : Addresses root causes and solutions.

Christian Study Guide: Six small-group sessions.

Bread Blogwww.breadblog.org

Other Ways to Get Involved

• Become a Bread member.• Join or start a local Bread

Team.• Visit your member of

Congress.• Become a Bread Covenant

Church.

Get Involved!

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Get Connected!

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