In 2012, the Board of Outreach of the Congregational Church of Tryon, under the leadership of Priscilla Yeager, initiated a program to provide a summer weekly meal for children who were qualified for the free and reduced lunches during the school year. Christel Walter now chairs that Board of Outreach, and Carolyne Rostick coordinates the Feed A Kid Program. Funding is provided through the church’s annual appeal.

The program, in partnership with Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry (TBOM), has continued for the past six years. In 2016, members of the Unitarian Universalist Church and the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration made contributions and joined the packing and delivery teams. This year, the Tryon United Methodist Church connected with the group. It held a spaghetti dinner fundraiser where all proceeds were given to the FAK effort.

There was also an anonymous financial donation received this year.

Throughout Polk County, 129 children and 46 families will be served. There are also an extra five bags being dropped off at Steps to Hope. So, a total of 134 individual bags are packed weekly. The children are identified through the schools by teachers and counselors as at risk for food insufficiency.

The interdenominational and intergenerational (seven are over 80 years old) FAK effort has more than 30 volunteer drivers and 25 packers signed up this summer from all four churches and the community who will pack meals at TBOM and deliver them directly to the homes. There are seven routes that extend to the borders of Polk County. Becky and Keith Collins and Ginger Leavitt have mapped out these routes meticulously.

It’s been reported that people still ask on a daily basis if they can volunteer to pack, especially adults with children.

Here are some scenes from packing on June 19 and 26, and delivering on June 21. Record time packing this year was 29 minutes. Bravo to all!

The Congregational Church of Tryon, United Church of Christ (UCC) has played an active role in the Tryon area since 1891, one of spiritual growth, outreach, justice, fellowship, and diversity. “Our roots run deep and our traditions are living. We are a church that believes life is worth living, people are worth loving, and God is worth trusting. Thus we continue to adhere to our credo that ‘No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here’.”

Learn more at ucctryon.org, and on Facebook as “The Congregational Church, Tryon NC (United Church of Christ).”

Submitted by Ellen Harvey Zipf