March 9, 2017
By Joyce Rothermel

It is not too early to put the 2017 SW PA Bread for the World Workshop on your calendar for Sunday, April 23 from 1 – 4 PM at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. With the change in administration in Washington, D.C., it is important that those who are committed to food security at home and abroad work together and focus our collective energies to continue to build on the successes we have achieved over Bread for the World’s long history.

This year we will welcome Sheena Rolle, Bread’s Regional Representative, to her first Bread workshop here in the Pittsburgh area. She will present this year’s topic for the annual Offering of Letters campaign to our members of Congress and share with participants the strategy for this year’s Bread for the World efforts.

Three afternoon breakout sessions will be offered. We will be joined by Rachel Schneider from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, who will address advocacy in the new administration with best practices to have our voices heard. Sr. Mary Hall, a Sister of St. Joseph, will assist those new to the offering of letters on the “How To’s” in conducting an offering of letters within your congregation. The third session on summer food programs will be led by Chris West from the SW PA Food Security Partnership.

The workshop will conclude with a full group facilitated conversation on “Innovative Strategies for Food Insecurity” right here in SW PA. This afternoon event is open to the public and free of charge. For more information and to register, call Joyce Rothermel at 412-780-5118 or by email at rothermeljoyce@gmail.com

What Is Bread for the World?

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 where we live. We can end hunger in our time. Everyone, including our government, must do their part.

With the stroke of a pen, policies are made that redirect millions of dollars and affect millions of lives. By making our voices heard in Congress, we make our nation’s laws more fair and compassionate to people in need.

Bread for the World members write personal letters and emails and meet with our members of Congress. Working through our churches, campuses, and other organizations, we engage more people in advocacy. Each year, Bread for the World invites churches across the country to take up a nationwide Offering of Letters to Congress on an issue that is important to hungry and poor people. As a non-profit, Bread for the World works in a bipartisan way. Our network of thousands of individual members, churches, and denominations ensures Bread’s presence in all U.S. congressional districts. Together, we build the political commitment needed to overcome hunger and poverty.

The SW PA Bread for the World Team is a regional Bread for the World Chapter. The Bread Team meets periodically at Christian Associates of SW PA, with offices located at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. They host an annual Bread for the World Workshop in the spring and promote the annual offering of letters in area Christian Churches and Congregations, meet with US Senators and Representatives in their local offices, and attend the annual Bread for the World Lobby Day in early June.

Joyce Rothermel serves as Co-Convener of the SW PA Bread for the World Team.