What Are Global Hot Spots? WFP in Action

Approximately once each week, WFP releases information regarding countries that are experiencing extreme need. They call these areas "hotspots" and categorize them as areas with high profile emergencies.

Each report contains a summary of hot spots as well as the current conditions there, WFP efforts, and WFP plans for the area as well as a map that assesses the needs of all countries and designates need by color.

Here's link to the most recent report (June 24, 2008):
http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2785

Wondering how a particular country is recovering from a natural or manmade disaster? Wondering what actions WFP is taking or where your donations are going? Check out the latest reports and feel good about your efforts in the fight against global hunger.

Have you got 5 free minutes?

From time to time, the Friends of WFP main office tells us about a bill going up before Congress that will affect global hunger. When they do, we'll pass that "phone assignment" on to you. It isn't mandatory, but it's a great way to start getting involved.

Here is a link to some details about a call for this month:http://www.friendsofwfp.org/site/pp.asp?c=7oIJLSOsGpF&b=4149771&msource=NEWS&auid=3699794&kntaw5051=EDB32791AB6D4F888CFD20482882E5A5

Here are some handy phone numbers for you:

Virginia senators:
John Warner, (202) 224-2023
Jim Webb, (202) 224-4024

Maryland senators:
Benjamin Cardin, (202) 224-4524
Barbara Mulkulski

DC House of Representatives contact:
Eleanor Norton, (202) 225-8050

District 11 (Vienna) Virginia House:
Frank R. Wolf, (202) 225-5136
Tom Davis, (202) 225-1492
If you feel like calling others, here's the link: http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/index.html

Maryland House:
John P. Sarbanes, (202) 225-4016
Elijah E. Cummings, (202) 225-4741
If you feel like calling others, here's the link: http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/index.html

Here's a sample script: Hello. My name is [insert your name here] and I'm calling to tell congressman/woman [or senator; insert his/her name here] that I would him/her to support the Emergency Supplemental Spending Bill (H.R. 2642). Usually the congressperson or senator's assistant will thank you for your call and then ask you for your zip code.

Taking 5 minutes to make these phone calls is a great way to get involved, and when the bill gets passed, you'll know that you helped WFP.

Free Rice: Playing a Game and Making a Difference

Free Rice is a wonderful word game that builds and tests your vocabulary while at the same time providing hungry people with rice. Through sponsorships, your participation in the game has a tangible benefit. For each word that you pair with the correct definition, sponsors will donate 20 grains of rice to the WFP. There are about 48 grains of rice in a gram and the WFP strives to provide people with approximately 400 grams of rice per person per day. The Free Rice site reports that "In it's first 5 months, Free Rice generated enough rice to feed more than 1 million people."

Got a few minutes to spare? Bookmark this page and play whenever you have a moment. Your time can make a real difference in the lives of others.

http://www.freerice.com/index.php

Benefit for Friends of WFP at Tattoo Bar

Join us for a benefit happy hour for Friends of WFP at Tattoo Bar (14th and K St NW) on Thursday, July 10, from 5:30 to 9 pm. We'll receive 100% of the proceeds from a suggested cover at the door. This is a great opportunity to get your friends together and tell them more about Friends of WFP and its programs as well as a chance to meet other Friends of WFP DC volunteers and the six committee coordinators.

Bring your friends, meet some new people, and help us in the fight against global hunger!

A Different Kind of Birthday Party

DC State Committee volunteer Sraddha had a very different birthday this year. In lieu of a traditional party, she invited 30 friends to her home, served light cocktails and appetizers, and told her friends about the WFP, Friends of WFP, and their programs. In addition to educating others about Friends of WFP's activities, Sraddha was able to collect $400 in donations. We commend Sraddha for organizing and executing this fete entirely on her own and for celebrating her birthday by helping others.

Interested in hosting your own get together to educate friends and gather donations? Feel free to e-mail Sraddha or the committee coordinators with questions.

Thank you to Sraddha and her friends for their generosity! Your contributions will make a real difference.

WFP DC State Committee Recent Events

June has been a great month for the DC State Committee.

Running for Rice
Devon and her friends Kate, Kevie, and Laura participated in the ZOOMA Women's Race Series Half Marathon in Annapolis, Maryland, on the first weekend of June. They were very successful and through their sponsorships the Girls of the World Food Program team raised more than $900.

One man's globe is another man's dinner
Lucy and Betsy staffed the garage sale on Capital Hill on Saturday, June 7. Shreya assisted them by providing and collecting additional items for the sale. Sales were a little slow (perhaps in part because of the extreme heat?), but a fair number of items were sold, several donations were collected, and approximately $60 was raised.

Singing and dancing for a cause
Mike, Lucy, Devon, and Shreya attended the Wailers Concert in Loudoun County on Sunday, June 8, and collected more than $1,500 in donations. Our group found that those who attended the concert were friendly and interested in helping in the fight against hunger. The DC Committee was very thankful to the Wailers for providing us with the opportunity to attend their concert and raise these funds.



Thank you to everyone involved in these activities and to the committee members for their hard work and planning. Remember: 25 cents feeds someone for a day; 50 dollars can feed her for a year. Even the smallest contribution can make a difference.

Current Volunteer Opportunities

Interested in working our table at Eastern Market? You'll be handing out literature, collecting donations, answering questions about Friends of WFP programs, and recruiting new volunteers. Send me your availability for Sundays in July, August, and September. There will be two shifts (9-11 and 11-1), please specify if you have a preference or are willing to work two shifts in a row. We realize that schedules change, but if you think you can make a shift, let me know. We'll supply you with everything you need (tables, chairs, literature, volunteer forms, information about programs, etc).

Interested in helping to develop the clues and questions for the scavenger hunt? We're organizing a scavenger hunt for August with distinct fundraising and education goals. We also need volunteers to work the day of the scavenger hunt as team leaders and to promote the hunt by recruiting friends and family to participate. Clues will be based on facts about Friends of WFP and the hunt itself will take place on the mall. We'll get together as a group to develop the scavenger hunt and then let the group know when a date has been chosen. We're expecting this event to take place on a Saturday.

Interested in writing a piece of our blog? We want to drive traffic to our developing blog as a means to teach people about hunger, Friends of WFP programs, and events that we're organizing as well as to raise money for Friends of WFP. If you're interested in doing some writing, please let me know. Ideally we'd like to be posting a new piece once or twice each week.

Interested in doing some research for two upcoming projects? I need a couple of volunteers who can make some phone calls and compile some spreadsheets for us in the next month or so.

Look for some additional e-mails soon about scheduled events for July and August. We're still working on details for a volunteer/coordinator happy hour, a sporting event, a happy hour benefit at Tattoo Bar (at 14th and K), and local restaurant days.

We're also designing t-shirts to wear at the market and various events and to sell as a fundraiser for WFP. Had a good experience with a local vendor or know someone who prints shirts? Send us their contact information.

Our mission

Increase awareness about global hunger issues.

Mobilize support for hunger relief programs and activities.

Generate resources for WFP operations and other activities that alleviate hunger.

DC State Committee Friends of World Food Program

Hurt hurts, but you can make a difference! The DC State Committee of the World Food Program is recruiting volunteers. Interested in volunteering or have a question? E-mail us.

We'll use this site to post information about local events and pictures from those events.

Not in the DC area? Look to the main Friends of the World Food Program to see if you state has a committee or talk to the coordinator about starting one in your area! Feel free to e-mail us with questions about joining a committee or volunteering in any area.

Where can you find us? Here on blogger, on Facebook, through the main Friends of the World Food Program web page, and over e-mail.