Missions

2 Cents-A-Meal Mission

On the last Sunday of every month it is our tradition, and has been for many years, during the last hymn to walk forward and give to the 2 Cents a Meal program using special baskets laid out in the front of the sanctuary.

The contributions for the 2 Cents-A-Meal program are over and above contributors Stewardship and Building Fund pledges. The idea is to contribute a few cents 2¢, 5¢, 10¢ 25¢ for each member of the family for each meal. It is recommended that participants toss those few cents into a can at each meal. These few cents add up. The total contributions by the 1st Presbyterian Church from 2004, ‘05 and ‘06 exceeded $10,500.00 that is an average just over $3,500.00/year. This makes our church one of the largest contributors to the St. Andrew Presbytery Hunger Program. The Presbytery currently uses all of the 2 Cents A Meal contributions from our church and others in the Presbytery to make Hunger Action Grants to 10 Food Banks throughout north Mississippi. In your bulletin you have a list of these food banks and the numbers of people served. In the past the Presbytery directed some Hunger Funds to the Clean Water Program and in 2005 money was directed to the Presbytery Disaster Relief program to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina. Katrina eliminated the surplus the Presbytery maintained for emergencies in their Hunger Funds.

These food banks are non-ecumenical, faith-based and very well managed organizations. The labor force for each Food Bank is all-volunteer. Most of the food is donated, but some has to be purchased. Each Food Bank requires storage space, electricity, insurance, some fuel and supplies such as boxes to distribute the food. One Food Bank has calculated that is takes $8.00 to process a months worth of groceries for a family of four. The Presbytery Hunger Action Grants helps fund both food and expenses for these Food Banks.

Who are the recipients? Most are working poor, people who have lost jobs or who are marginally employed. In the areas served by these the 10 Food Banks our Presbytery reports a large jump in demand is due to the restructuring of the furniture industry. Another large group are retired poor, people past their working years, tying to get by only on government assistance. These are people that need and deserve help.

So join the tradition and walk down the aisle to make a 2 Cents A Meal contribution. If you do so you will be following the teaching of our Lord Jesus as recorded in Matthew 25:35 “For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you invited me into your home.”