Interfaith campaign launched to fight food poverty for festive period

The Council of Christians and Jews have unveiled their new campaign to tackle food poverty ahead of the festive period.

Working in partnership with Fareshare, the UK’s oldest food redistribution charity who have been campaigning with their ambassador, England footballer Marcus Rashford, they will be raising both money and awareness to address the issue.

The campaign has received support from leading figures of each faith, including Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis; Masorti Senior Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg;  Interim Director of Liberal Judaism Rabbi Charley Baginsky; Archbishop of Thyateira and Great Britain Nikitas Loulias; and Free Churches Moderator Hugh Osgood.

CCJ President, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, said: “Hunger and child poverty are injustices which plague our society, no matter where we live or how sheltered we might feel.

“The Bible inspires us to empathise with the poor and urges action against poverty and hunger. Inspired by our faith, we must never accept the status quo and be ready always to help those in need. That is the purpose of CCJ’s campaign which I welcome.”

The Rt Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave, Chairman of the Council of Christians and Jews, said: “It is estimated that there are 8 million people who go hungry in the UK and 4 million of those are children.

“As people of faith, we have an obligation to do something about this unacceptable situation. That is the thinking behind our winter campaign. We hope that our members get involved, and that the symbolism of cooperation between our two faith communities conveys a powerful message that no child should go hungry.”