News

Washington, D.C. –More than 90,000 voters petitioned the Republican and Democratic National Committees to include “a commitment to confront and end the moral crisis of hunger in America” in their platforms at the coming party conventions.

“Bread for the World has been engaging its members and another 14 million voters in 12 swing states to ensure that ending hunger is a top issue during this election,” wrote Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World, in a letter to the parties’ committees. “We are moved by God’s grace in Jesus Christ to work for justice for hungry people in our country and around the world. We want your party and your candidates to know that we will vote to end hunger.”

Today, more than 48 million Americans suffer from food insecurity. A recent survey conducted by Bread for the World found that 1 in 3 voters says they will vote for candidates who promise to make ending hunger one of their top priorities.

“Over 302,000 Christian voters have signed up to pray that our political leaders will strengthen programs that ensure our kids, their families, and the families of nearly 1 million veterans have enough to eat,” added Beckmann.

The voters’ petitions, delivered late last week to the RNC and DNC, read:

“America should not be a place where our children, veterans, and working families struggle with hunger. But for 1 in 5 American children, 1 in 4 active duty military families, and 900,000 veterans, not having enough to eat is a daily reality. Yet we know that churches, government, and communities working together can end hunger in America.

“So as the national political party conventions approach, I’m calling on both parties to ensure that the political priorities reflected in their platforms include a commitment to confront and end the moral crisis of hunger in America.”

The 2016 Republican National Convention will be held July 18-21 in Cleveland. The 2016 Democratic National Convention will be held July 25-28 in Philadelphia. Their party platforms for the 2016 elections will be officially unveiled during the conventions.