Bread for the World Offers Free 'Tax Day' Resources to Help Churches Bring Good News to Hungry and Poor People

WASHINGTON, March 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Bread for the World is encouraging congregations to observe Sunday, April 11, or Wednesday, April 14, as "Tax Day" as a way to think and pray about the role of taxes and tax credits. Bread has created free resources to help mark the day -- including worship material, prayers, theological reflections, hymns, and bulletin inserts -- available at www.bread.org/april15.

"The Sunday after Easter is historically one of the most difficult for pastors and worship leaders to plan," said Rev. Gary Cook, director of church relations for Bread for the World. "They are faced with trying to continue to make the good news that Christ is risen real for their congregations at a time when the congregation's energy is drained from all the activities of Holy Week. We created these resources to give pastors help in planning their sermons and worship."

Observing "Tax Day" is also good preparation for Bread for the World's 2010 Offering of Letters, which seeks changes in tax policies that address the growing poverty in the United States.

One of the best ways to reduce hunger and poverty in the United States is by protecting and strengthening key tax credits that benefit low-income working families. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) helps bridge the gap between low-wage earnings and the costs of meeting basic needs. Lauded by Republicans and Democrats, the EITC lifts almost 7 million Americans -- including 3.3 million children -- above the poverty line.

This year, Congress is considering changes to our tax policy, and churches have a critical role to play in ensuring these changes benefit low-income families. Thousands of U.S. congregations will participate in Bread's 2010 Offering of Letters (www.bread.org/OL2010) by writing letters to Congress -- often during their worship services -- in support of these tax credits and other changes to the tax code.

"In the story of Zacchaeus, when the tax system meets Jesus, good things happen for poor people," added Cook. "We pray that our Tax Day event and 2010 Offering of Letters will follow in those footsteps."

Bread for the World (www.bread.org) is a collective Christian voice urging our nation's decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad.

SOURCE Bread for the World