The food pantry at Fordham Lutheran Church, the Bronx, recently received a $5,000 grant from ELCA World Hunger to replenish its shelves. The grant was pursued by Lutheran Disaster Response of New York on behalf of Fordham Lutheran. Mary Thornhill, who runs the program at Fordham, says she gives out 70 bags of food twice a week, in addition to emergency requests in between. Requests for food in New York have increased since Sept. 11.

The ELCA World Hunger program continues to hold these organizations in their prayers and asks that they be blessed for the difficult and important ministry that they face each day,” said Joe Young, Director for Community Development Services.

Pastor Katrina Foster, pastor of Fordham Lutheran, second from right, receives a grant from ELCA World Hunger for her food pantry. With her are the Rev. Dr. Gary Mills, Assistant to the Bishop, Jennifer Singer, center, Lutheran Disaster Response of New York; and Mary Thornhill, right, food pantry coordinator, and a volunteer.