Today, 828 million people go to bed hungry every night and 345 million are facing acute food insecurity, according to the World Food Programme. A combination of factors such as conflict, climate change and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a global food crisis.

Now, more than ever, we must act so that no one and is left behind. By investing in communities, we can help small-scale farmers adapt to deal with climate change and improve food security and nutrition, and help poor, rural communities build resilience to deal with crises.

October 16 is World Food Day, a day to raise awareness and take action for those who struggle against hunger and malnutrition. 

Facts about Hunger

• 50 million people in 45 countries are wavering on the edge of famine.
• Nearly 85% of people experiencing hunger live in developing countries.
• Around 80% of displaced people live in countries affected by long-term hunger.
• Smallholder farmers produce more than 35% of the world’s food, despite the many challenges they face, including poverty, lack of access to training and technology and more.

Together, We Respond to Hunger

PWS&D works with Canadian Foodgrains Bank and our global partners to help people in marginalized countries rise above hunger. Together, we are providing farmers with training so that families have more nutritious food to eat. In times of emergency, PWS&D provides food aid and agricultural livelihood recovery. We also work to engage Canadians to take action within Canada to reduce hunger globally.

This World Food Day, respond with us.

• Use the Canadian Foodgrains Bank’s new World Food Day worship resource, Until All Are Fed, which includes prayers, scripture readings, a children’s feature, song suggestions and opportunities for advocacy.
• Place the WFD 2022 poster in your window, beside your desk, or in your church lobby so people walking by can know it’s World Food Day and become curious to find out more.
• Attend the National Prayer Gathering on World Food Day to prayer with people from across Canada for an end to global hunger. Register here.

More ways to help end hunger:

• Host a fundraising event to support our programs that improve the long-term food security of families in need. Check out the new Gifts of Change for gift ideas!
• Use the Canadian Foodgrains Bank’s Advocacy Resource to advocate about Canada’s role in ending global poverty and hunger.

Download WFD 2022 Poster – B&W
Download WFD 2022 Poster – Colour
Download WFD 2022 – Social Media Image

PWS&D is a member of Canadian Foodgrains Bank, a coalition of 15 church-based agencies working together with the common goal of eliminating global hunger.

Banner photo:  Maureen Mwalweni stands in front of her plot of land surrounded by plants that are flourishing thanks to the training she received in conservation agriculture—an environmentally friendly farming technique that helps retain moisture and nutrients in the soil and prevents further erosion —to increase crop yields through PWS&D’s supported conservation agriculture project in northern Malawi. Photo: Karen Bokma