Global Food Crisis Fund makes $75,265 in grants.

The General Board's Global Food Crisis Fund has made $75,265 in six grants for hunger relief programs in Guatemala, Armenia, Niger, Indonesia, Zimbabwe, and the US. The six grants bring to $325,000 granted from the fund since a year ago, and a bit over $750,000 over the past two years, reported fund manager Howard Royer.

He also celebrated the giving to the fund in 2005. "Given the emergencies and their attendant needs of 2005, the church's giving for longterm development programs is quite remarkable," Royer said.

An allocation of $20,265 has been given for costs for an ongoing trees, cisterns, and stoves program in Guatemala in 2006. The program is being carried out by Church of the Brethren mission staff.

A grant of $15,000 will provide start-up assistance for 15 Church of the Brethren Foods Resource Bank growing projects in 2006.

A grant of $12,000 will fund rehabilitation of the environment and enhancement of productivity in Zimbabwe's Zhomba area. The initiative partners with Heifer International in a three-year, agro-ecology project focused on reclamation, protection, and sustainable utilization of natural resources. Additionally, the grant will help fund work with human nutrition and food security with communities impacted by HIV/AIDS.

A grant of $10,000 is going for food security, economic, and social development work among rural women in Armenia who are heads of households. The initiative joins Heifer International to help provide seeds and livestock, as well as nurturing relationships through rural women's unions. Additionally, "pass-on" gifts will benefit women in neighboring countries of Georgia and Azerbaijan.

An additional allocation of $10,000 has gone for continuing food security measures in West Timor in Indonesia. This follows an initial $10,000 allocation given to Church World Service in 2005 for food security in West Timor.

An additional allocation of $8,000 will be spent for emergency and longterm development work in Niger. An initial $10,000 grant was given in 2005 to a Church World Service appeal for the work in Niger.

Source: 1/18/2006 Newsline
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