Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Jesuit Refugee Service UK celebrate new collaboration on World Food Day

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints visitors with Jesuit Refugee Service UK staff

Source: Jesuit Refugee Service UK

Ahead of World Food Day (16 October) a delegation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints joined refugees, staff, and volunteers at the Jesuit Refugee Service UK (JRS UK) to celebrate an exciting new collaboration, providing access to healthy meals for refugees facing food insecurity.

Over the coming year, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will support JRS UK's provision of monthly food supplies and regular hot meals for people made destitute by the asylum system. The Church will also support JRS UK's provision of clothing, toiletries and other essentials for refugees at risk of homelessness.

This practical support is an important aspect of JRS UK's wider provision which includes advice, accommodation, and legal representation for refugees who are barred from working and have no access to statutory support.

Elder Robert Schwartz, from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said: "We are grateful to contribute to JRS UK and support the vital work of helping refugees who face hunger and alienation. We share with JRS UK a desire to care for the needs of others as together we seek to live Jesus' teaching: "I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in" (Matt. 25:35). Together, we hope to ease the burdens of the refugee community, providing not only nourishment but also hope and dignity as they navigate such challenging circumstances."

Recent research by JRS UK has highlighted how food insecurity and malnutrition is widespread among people seeking asylum in the UK.

Jemima Tanner of JRS UK added: "our services are designed with our refugee friends to ensure that we help to meet people's health, dietary and cultural needs, as well as giving people agency to choose food that they enjoy. This is only possible because of generous supporters and is becoming harder as food prices remain high, so we are extremely grateful to be beginning this new collaboration with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

LINKS

Jesuit Refugee Service UK: www.jrsuk.net

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: www.churchofjesuschrist.org

World Food Day: www.fao.org/world-food-day/en

For more details of JRS UK's research on hunger and malnutrition among people in the asylum system see:
www.jrsuk.net/news/jrs-uk-calls-for-change-in-joint-report-revealing-widespread-malnutrition-and-food-insecurity-among-asylum-seekers-in-london/. and www.jrsuk.net/destitute-and-in-danger-report/

United Nations: www.un.org/en/