What: $1,000 grants for congregations to feed neighbors in need. Fill out the brief application form, receive a grant, and get to work feeding your neighbors.

Why: Our neighbors are hungry. In Matthew 14:16, in the feeding of the 5,000, we hear Jesus say to his disciples who express concern for the hungry crowd, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” We continue to hear those words today, knowing that Jesus keeps calling us not to send people away, but to feed them.

The Metro D.C. Synod applied for and received a $30,000 grant from the ELCA Building Resilient Communities (BRC) Team to continue supporting Metro D.C. communities in the midst of an ongoing government shutdown and food insecurity. The Hope for the Hungry grant builds on the Synod's previous hunger ministry grants by providing an opportunity to continue inspiring congregations to love and serve their neighbors through support of hunger ministries. 

How: The possibilities are endless! Your church could:

• Create a “tiny pantry” in front of your church and stock it with food.
• Hold a food drive for a local food bank. Have the congregation bring in donations and supplement by purchasing donations with your funds
• Pack bags of shelf-stable groceries for federal workers impacted by the shutdown.
• Supplement your church’s current feeding ministry endeavors.

And, so many more things of which we have not yet dreamed, but you will!

Next Steps:

• Once you have applied, you will be contacted to set up payment disbursement.
• We want to hear from you. After the awarded grant has been used, please provide a paragraph and photo so we can share the story of the ministry possibilities that exist when we work together. 
• Congregations that have previously received Metro D.C. Synod hunger grant awards are eligible to apply for this grant. The synod office will review whether a previous grant paragraph and photo have been received.