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Sermon Slides May 11: Hope in Times of Hunger
By: Pastor Dave | May 11, 2025 | Discipleship, Justice, Offering of Letters, sermon slides
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (aka WIC) is the premier U.S. public health nutrition program for pregnant women, mothers, and children up to age 5.
In 2023, the program served 7 million participants per month— including almost 40 percent of all infants in USA.
Most WIC participants live below the poverty line—$25,820 for a family of three in 2024. WIC enables families to purchase additional nutritious foods and provides health care referrals and information on healthy eating.
Every $1 invested in WIC saves at least $2.48 in medical, educational, and productivity costs.
What does WIC do?
—Provides participating pregnant women with prenatal health care.
—Improves the dietary intake of pregnant and postpartum women.
—Improves breastfeeding rates.
—Reduces the rates of low birthweight and premature birth.
—Reduces stillbirth and infant mortality.
—Improves the growth of nutritionally at-risk infants and children.
—Boosts children’s intellectual development and helps them get ready to start school.
Our ask? Recommit to fully funding WIC now and in the future, so that all who apply and are eligible have access.
25% of children under 5 are severely malnourished. Nearly half of all preventable deaths among children under 5 are attributed to malnutrition.
Most people living with malnutrition are concentrated in South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Central America.
The causes of malnutrition and food insecurity are often rooted in and amplified by conflict, political instability, rising food prices, climate impacts, and the aftermath of COVID-19.
Without good nutrition, children, families, and communities face: disruptions to physical, mental, and emotional development; lost productivity; strain on healthcare systems; and instability.
In 2023, USAID nutrition programs reached more than 39 million women and children globally with critical nutrition interventions.
Every $1 invested in nutrition results in up to $35 in economic returns!
Polls show most Americans think that international humanitarian aid is a huge percentage of the U.S. budget—25% or 30%. And they think it should be less than that, only around 10%.
In reality? International humanitarian aid is less than 1% of our federal budget
Our ask? Provide robust funding for global nutrition in the federal budget.
CLICK HERE for the step by step directions for writing your letters.
If you use the email option, be sure to Click “Yes”, this email is part of an Offering of Letters
Enter: Minooka United Methodist, Minooka, IL as the church name, city, and state.
CLICK HERE for more about why we advocate in this way.