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In much of the developing world, a food crisis is underway, and Catholic missions have had to step forward to serve those in greatest need. [See story on opposite page.] The missions' programs supply bulk food packages to hungry families, offer hot school lunches to children, and supplement the daily meals of the vulnerable elderly, but in each case, these missions can only succeed if the rice, beans and other resources used in the outreach can be resupplied on a regular basis. Organizing this ongoing support in the U.S. is a priority for the charity Cross Catholic Outreach. Our goal is to empower the priests, nuns and Catholic lay leaders who are fighting the war against malnutrition, and we are involving thousands of Catholic donors in the United States to provide that support," explained Jim Cavnar, president of Cross Catholic Outreach, the Vatican-recognized charity serving missionaries in the developing world. "In this case, American Catholics are helping by funding the shipping and distribution of Vitafood." Vitafood is a fortified rice product, specifically designed to reverse the effects of child malnutrition, and it can be easily packed in large shipping containers and cost-effectively sent to Catholic schools, orphanages and other local partners serving the poorest of the poor. A single container can make a big impact, keeping crucial feeding programs running or providing immediate relief when disasters strike. Vitafood is a godsend to the Catholic schools and feeding programs that receive it because it's highly nutritious and incredibly flexible. It can be cooked for school lunches or added to food baskets and provided directly to families. While we have done a lot to get Vitafood into the hands of the priests and religious sisters running feeding programs, I'm confident we could do even more with additional support from donors in the U.S.," Cavnar said. Catholic leaders in these countries are eager to help the poor in their communities, but they need this resource to succeed. Our steady supplies of food are critical to them, and in some cases, these meals save lives." According to Cavnar, Vitafood comes in several different varieties and can be prepared with additional spices or ingredients to suit local tastes. Each serving provides the optimal balance of vitamins, minerals, protein, fiber, fat and carbohydrates that a child's growing body needs. Not only is this tried-and- tested formula suitable for reversing malnutrition in children, but it also helps maintain good nutrition in people of all ages. A daily dose of Vitafood is beneficial for both children and adults. What's more, because Vitafood meals are donated to Cross Catholic Outreach, the ministry only needs to cover the cost for shipping the meals overseas. This means that for every dollar donated, about six nutritious meals can be sent to a community in need! There are very few donations a person can make that achieve this much bang for the buck," Cavnar pointed out. "Some of our donors are so impressed with the impact of this program that they want to sponsor major shipments of food, supplying the poor with thousands of meals." In recent months, the COVID-19 pandemic has made this outreach even more important to the poor, according to Cavnar. Problems related to the COVID-19 crisis have made malnutrition even more deadly. Our goal is to support Church leaders as they work to save those lives and restore the health of the people," he said. "As I see it, this is our opportunity to be a blessed instrument of mercy. It is our chance to further the work of the dedicated priests, nuns and Catholic lay missionaries who are doing everything they can to respond to this threat." Readers interested in supporting Cross Catholic Outreach food programs and other outreaches to the poor can contribute by scanning the QR code, on the next page, or sending a tax-deductible gift to Cross Catholic Outreach, PO Box 97168, Washington, DC 20090- 7168. The ministry has a special need for partners willing to make gifts on a monthly basis. Visit us at CrossCatholic.org/change-lives to become a Mission Partner or write Monthly Mission Partner on your mailed check to be contacted about setting up those arrangements.
Cross Catholic Outreach Arranges Major Food Shipments to Combat Global Hunger
Father Glenn Meauxs Kobonal Haiti Mission is a major partner with Cross Catholic Outreach, and its feeding programs for children and the elderly benet signicantly from food shipments made possible through donations of concerned Catholics in the U.S. Without those gifts, outreaches like Fr. Meauxs would lose their impact.
Catholic leaders are eager to help the poor in their communities, but they need this resource to succeed.
James Cavnar Cross Catholic Outreach
Cross Catholic Outreach Endorsed by More Than 100 Bishops, Archbishops
Cross Catholic Outreach's range of relief work to help the poor overseas continues to be recognized by a growing number of Catholic leaders in the U.S. and abroad. We've received more than 100 endorsements from bishops and archbishops," explained James Cavnar, president of Cross Catholic Outreach. They're moved by the fact that we've launched outreaches in almost 40 countries and have undertaken a variety of projects - everything from feeding the hungry and housing the homeless to supplying safe water and supporting educational opportunities for the poorest of the poor. The bishops have also been impressed by Cross Catholic Outreach's direct and meaningful responses to emergency situations, most recently by providing food, medicines and other resources to partners in Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala impacted by natural disasters." Bishop Ronald W. Gainer of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, supports this mission. He writes, "What a joy it is to be part of the Lord's redemptive work and to manifest his mercy on Earth by caring for our neighbors in need." In addition to praising CCO's accomplishments, many of the bishops and archbishops are encouraged that pontifical canonical status was conferred on the charity in September 2015, granting it approval as an official Catholic organization. This allows CCO to participate in the mission of the Church and to give a concrete witness to Gospel charity, in collaboration with the Holy Father. Your work with the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development is a strong endorsement of your partnership with the work of the Universal Church," Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco said. "By providing hope to the faithful overseas by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, delivering medical relief to the sick and shelter to the homeless, and through self-help projects, you are embodying the papal encyclical Deus Caritas Est.
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FRIDAY JANUARY 14, 2022
The Observer
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