Mennonite
Central
Committee

Nearly 2,000 families in Palestine received MCC canned turkey as part of a food-for-work program. Nidal Sultan (left), of the UAWC, and Bajes Abu Zayd, mayor of Khirbet Salameh, prepare for the distribution of some of the turkey.

Photo by Alain Epp Weaver

Food Resource Priorities

MCC's highest priority, when distributing food aid and when using food as a commodity to promote local development, is to encourage local food production. The challenge for MCC has been to share food in ways that encourage local food production and increase the ability of the poor and landless to buy their own food. MCC also seeks to address long-term food security needs and to encourage self-reliance for the hungry, whenever it responds to a call for food.

Food has been shared in the wake of war and other emergencies and in areas of chronic, long-term food shortages. When possible, MCC has drawn on local food resources and promoted local food production. Other times, resources within a region have been supplemented with food from North America.

MCC is not alone in its efforts to share food with those who are in need. Many people and agencies are working to fight hunger. Progress has been made but poverty and hunger will not readily disappear.