Church Meets With Leader of UN World Food Programme  

Leaders of the global humanitarian efforts of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met Monday with the head of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Salt Lake City.

Dowloadable video: B-roll | SOTs

Bishop W. Christopher Waddell of the Presiding Bishopric and Sister Sharon Eubank, president of Latter-day Saint Charities and member of the Relief Society general presidency, hosted David Beasley, executive director of the WFP, and additional staff.

“We're very grateful because they're one of our largest partners of nongovernmental partners,” remarked Beasley during an interview with media on Temple Square. “We work together in many countries. We've talked about many other countries and many of the opportunities of how we can end hunger around the world.”

“By working with an organization like World Food Programme, which is just a phenomenal organization, what we can provide … reaches out farther than it would otherwise without someone like them,” said Bishop Waddell. “We're grateful for the help that they provide.”

“They have a presence in places where we have no members of the Church, in places like Yemen, Somalia—places that are conflict-ridden,” added Sister Eubank, who oversees the Church’s global humanitarian efforts. “The partnership is 5 or 6 years old, and it's one of our most significant partners.”

The humanitarian leaders toured the Church’s Welfare Square and the Bishops’ Central Storehouse, where food and other commodities produced by the Church are shipped to those in need in many regions of the world.

The WFP operates in more than 80 countries, feeding people caught in conflict and disasters. It also works with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience.

The WFP estimates that 821 million people go to bed on an empty stomach each night. In addition, one in three people around the world suffers from some form of malnutrition.

Latter-day Saint Charities is the humanitarian arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Its purpose is to relieve suffering, foster self-reliance and provide opportunities for service.

Since 1985, Latter-day Saint Charities has aided millions of people in 195 countries. In 2018, it worked in 141 countries and territories on 2,885 projects with more than 1,900 partners to serve millions of people.