Participants role-play people in difficult economic situations: a single mother of three, a young couple with a child, a grandmother caring for her grandchild or a child caring for his sick mother.
Understanding their assigned personas, participants then calculate their daily food budget, taking into account their monthly income and other expenses. Next, they have 45 minutes to visit four stations set aside as a bank, grocery store, food pantry and local food stamp office in order to procure food for their family. Finally, attendees share the issues they faced in the simulation and brainstorm solutions during a group discussion.
The Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy Minnesota has been partnering with America’s Second Harvest, the largest domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States, and other Minnesota groups to implement Hunger 101 in the ELCA MN synods since 2004.  The grass-roots organizing principles applied in this initiative are designed to strengthen synodical hunger committees’ connection with congregations and raise awareness of the World Hunger Appeal. 
We would love to help you learn about the MN experience, evolving efforts in other states, and how you can begin to organize and launch a Hunger 101 initiative that will mobilize communities for advocacy and follow-through local action. Please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Rev. Mark Peters if you are interested in having us facilitate Hunger 101 at your church.