These are hard times. Millions of Americans are unemployed or underemployed, and more than one in five children live in households that struggle to provide enough food. Worldwide, nearly one billion people are hungry, and a child dies every six seconds of hunger related causes. Yet when people of conscience stand together, and when we persuade our leaders to prioritize these issues, progress can be achieved. This year, U.S. Congress is intensely focused on cutting spending, and vital U.S. safety net programs are on the chopping block, as is life-saving foreign assistance. Let's speak up together to protect our most vulnerable neighbors here and abroad. lt;brgt;lt;brgt;Zach Schmidt is regional organizer for the Central Midwest office of Bread for the World, which covers Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana and Missouri. As an organizer with Bread for the past 3.5 years, he is privileged to identify, recruit and equip volunteer leaders in the work to end hunger. Zach studied Bible and theology at Bethel University (St. Paul, MN) and Fuller Theological Seminary (Pasadena, CA). He loves his roles as husband and father of four children, and in his very limited spare time enjoys reading and being outdoors.