“Serving hungry is a moral call,” says Executive Director of World Food Program
(Feb. 03, 2009):“Serving the hungry is a moral call that unites peoples of all faiths,
and every major religion urges their believers to be a Good Samaritan and help others”,
said Mrs Josette Sheeran, the Executive Director of the World Food Program – WFP,
who also spoke at Tuesday’s Press Conference when the Lenten message of Pope Benedict
XVI was released. Sheeran offered profound thanks to Pope Benedict for inviting the
World Food Program to participate in this special event, and expressed appreciation
for the Pontiff’s support for the work done by the WFP. “Feeding the hungry is a profound
act of love and restores dignity to a mother or father, who cannot provide for their
starving child”, she said. Stating that doing away with hunger is an achievable
goal, Sheeran said “we could cut hunger among school children virtually overnight,
if enough people come forward to help.” The WFP” she stressed, “delivers such hope
to 20 million school children, working closely with various faith-based groups.
At this time of worldwide economic challenges, let us not forget that the food and
financial crises hit the world’s most vulernable the hardest,” she said, noting that
a child dies every six seconds from hunger. Sheeran concluded calling on everyone
to take action to help others. This Lent, let us choose a hunger-free world, she said