Hunger Advocacy
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. – Matthew 25:35
Hunger connects deeply to our Lutheran faith, mission, and understanding of justice. Lutheran congregations engage in feeding ministries in various ways, including hosting food pantries and Backpack Buddies programs. ELCA World Hunger and other Lutheran organizations assist in relief and development projects domestically and globally.
Advocacy for public policies that promote biblical values of peacemaking, hospitality to strangers, and support for people struggling with hunger and poverty is another key part of the ELCA’s hunger ministry. As the ELCA Social Statement Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All highlights, “…we live in light of God’s promised future that ultimately there will be no hunger and injustice. This promise makes us restless with less than what God intends for the world.”
Hunger in Wisconsin
More than 694,000 people in Wisconsin – including over 202,000 children – face hunger and food insecurity. This crisis touches every corner of our state, from urban neighborhoods to rural communities.
The Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin (LOPPW) advocates for policies that address hunger and food insecurity, as well as ensure dignity, opportunity, and justice for all Wisconsinites.
Current Action Alerts
February 2026: Tell Your Representatives that SNAP/FoodShare Funding Matters!
There is an urgent need for Wisconsin’s lawmakers to allocate funding for FoodShare, Wisconsin’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Federal changes adopted last summer shifted 75 percent of SNAP administrative costs to states. If Wisconsin lawmakers do not take action to allocate funds, benefits could be at risk, and the state could face penalties up to $205 million for administrative errors.
