Feeding the Hungry in 2023

These projects and 71 nutrition projects were implemented in 94 countries in 2023.

Addressing Immediate Needs

To help address immediate hunger needs, the Church operates 123 bishops’ storehouses, where local Church leaders can arrange for individuals to receive food and other items free of charge. These storehouses also donate products to hundreds of local food banks.

Three quarters of the total volume of commodities distributed from bishops’ storehouses comes from goods that are produced and/or processed through Church farms, orchards, livestock operations, and processing plants. These operations are supported by volunteers, who may be Church members, community members, or volunteers from national organizations.

In locations without access to a bishops’ storehouse, leaders often make arrangements with local grocery stores to meet these needs. The Church also provides support to other organizations throughout the world that address hunger. Additionally, Church members frequently participate in food drives to meet needs within their own communities.

Nutrition

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is committed to alleviating malnutrition and is uniquely positioned to organize grassroots efforts in local communities.

Addressing Malnutrition Among Church Members

In 2023, the Church continued support for its child nutrition efforts, including an initiative led by the Church’s Relief Society that supports Church members whose children are malnourished. Through this initiative, local Church leaders and members receive training on the common signs of malnutrition and how to conduct a nutrition screening. The initiative also provides support to help Church members access local health and clinical services, nutritional supplementation, immunizations, and other aid to reduce malnutrition risks.

Nutrient-Dense Crop Production

As part of its humanitarian efforts, the Church also provided general support to rural farmers with nutrient-dense crop production and worked with community health systems to strengthen education and access to therapeutic foods. By working with qualified organizations like CARE, Helen Keller International, Catholic Relief Services, Save the Children, iDE, the Hunger Project, UNICEF, and the World Food Programme, the Church was able to help high-risk families of all backgrounds receive critically-timed supplemental food sources, ensuring that new mothers and children have access to the nutrition they need to grow.

Food Security

Global food security continued to be a humanitarian priority in 2023.

Agricultural Sustainability

• In Senegal, the Church helped MyAgro purchase agricultural inputs, such as fertilizer, and provided training for thousands of farmers, helping to promote long-term agricultural sustainability.
• The Church also worked with iDE Zambia to improve access to inputs and markets for thousands of farmers, helping them to increase their incomes and improve food security within the region.

Urban and Family Gardens

Additionally, the Church supported several projects to improve food security through urban and family gardens.

• In the Philippines, the Church teamed up with the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Plant Industry to launch an urban agriculture project in San Juan City. This project helps community members promote and implement sustainable urban farming practices by cultivating their own produce, thereby reducing reliance on external food sources.

Access to Food Enhances Self-Reliance

In 2023, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worked with The Hunger Project to establish centers in Burkina Faso where local communities can congregate to share resources, including a mill to grind grain.

This project had a significant impact on Hinmin, a mother of four, who previously had to walk long distances and wait in long lines to access the only mill in the village. Now she spends less time and money at the mill and gets her flour more quickly, which gives her more time to earn an income and support her children.