Good Friday services held jointly by Mennonite churches in both Calgary and Edmonton dedicated offerings to Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) famine relief efforts in South Sudan. The Calgary churches—Trinity, Foothills and First—raised $13,441, while Edmonton churches—First, Holyrood and Lendrum Mennonite Brethren—raised $3,344. In February, the United Nations announced that Unity State in South Sudan was officially experiencing famine. This is the first such announcement by the UN since 2011. It is estimated that more than 40 percent of South Sudan’s population of 5 million is in urgent need of food. MCC is providing a two-month supply of grain, beans, oil and salt to 245 households in Unity State. For more on this situation, see the back cover of the March 27 issue or visit bit.ly/2mC8i26. —Donita Wiebe-Neufeld
