University United Methodist

Project 5000

PROJECT 5000
A project of caring, love and sharing
with persons in need in the
Chapel Hill/Carrboro and the Chatham and Robeson County Communities

Throughout Lent, churches and congregations worldwide will focus on God and what it means to wholeheartedly follow Jesus, who told us to feed the hungry and to love our neighbors. Locally, several churches will do just that as they provide food for the hungry in Chapel Hill and Robeson and Chatham Counties through Project 5000.

Each year, approximately 15 churches participate in Project 5000, which was established at University United Methodist Church in 2002. This year, University UMC, Christ UMC, Episcopal Church of the Advocate and Mt. Carmel Baptist Church will participate in Project 5000 during Lent, while 10 additional churches will join the cause at other times of the year.

Project 5000 is founded on an unforgettable experience in the life of Jesus – the feeding of the 5,000. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish offered by a small boy and multiplied them to provide more than enough food for a multitude of 5,000. Project 5000 is designed for individuals or families to contribute small amounts of food and see it multiplied into greater usefulness.

Families or individuals are encouraged to pick up a small box from the participating churches to take home and fill with items from a specified list of foods. They will then return the filled box to the church for distribution to the hungry through Inter-Faith Council of Social Service, Robeson County Church and Community Center and, for the first time in 2010, Chatham County OutReach Alliance. The boxes of food provide emergency food for a family of four to eat for two days.

“It’s been a fun project to do, and especially it’s been gratifying,” said Paul Schwenke, who coordinates the program that collects more than 1,500 boxes of food annually. “Each box is worth about $25 worth of food, so that’s close to $40,000 worth of food each year. That’s about 10 percent of what the IFC distributes. It’s a pretty significant piece of what the IFC needs to keep going.”

Paul explained that churches participate at various times during the year to keep the flow of food moving. While there may be an additional focus during Lent, people are hungry throughout the year.

UUMC will collect boxes of food through March 21.

Instructions for Filling Boxes

Each box designed to provide emergency food for a family of four for two days should contain the following items:

• 2 cans of meat (2 different varieties – 12–24 oz. each)
• 2 cans of vegetables - No green beans, peas or corn (14.5 oz. each)
• 2 cans of fruit (15 oz. each)
• 1 can of pasta (15 oz.) (e.g. Chef Boyardee Ravioli)
• 2 boxes of macaroni and cheese (7.25 oz.)
• 2 cans of pinto beans (16 oz. each)
• 1 box hot cereal (18 oz.)
• 1 package of powdered milk or packets (9.6 oz.) or 2 cans of evaporated (not condensed) milk (12oz)
• 2 packages of muffin/biscuit mix (8.0 oz.)
• 1 can of single strength (19-24 oz) or 2 cans of non-condensed (11.5 oz) soup
• 1 plastic jar of peanut butter (18 oz.)
• 1 plastic jar of jelly (32 oz.)

Note: Sizes may vary slightly by brand. Please do not substitute items or use any glass containers.