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CAFOD, the Church’s Aid and Development Agency, marks its annual Family Fast Day on Friday 7 October, with an appeal to Catholics in England and Wales to help the millions of people around the world struggling to put food on the table.

The world food crisis could be the worst in living memory. CAFOD’s local experts are working hard to provide emergency food supplies to families in the worst affected countries in East Africa.

“It’s very distressing to be unable to feed your children,” says Talaso from Marsabit in Keyna. “As a mother, that’s the most distressing thing of all.”

20 million people are fighting for their survival through a crisis that has largely been created by other disasters. Climate change, coronavirus, and the conflict in Ukraine, are causing food prices to rocket. As each day goes by, the situation worsens. There are a number of ways you can get involved in your parish:

• Hold a collection – gift aid envelopes can be ordered via CAFOD’s online shop.
• Read the short talk after Mass - you could ask a young parishioner to help you.
• Share a simple soup lunch.
• Share CAFOD’s Harvest appeal in parish newsletters.
• Pray this Harvest.
• Encourage young people to join in – use our Children’s liturgy resources.

The short talk, newsletter text, and all CAFOD’s resources for its Family Fast Day can be found here.