These children remind us how fortunate we are to live in America, said Sandra James, chairman of the annual World Hunger Benefit Luncheon sponsored by First Baptist Church. This year's event will be held Friday, June 7, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. According to statistics from the Southern Baptist Convention, 19,000 children worldwide die every day from malnutrition or its effects. Showing their support for the program are, from left, Karen Mertes holding Noah and Hannah Mertes, Ann Selby, Brent Baldwin, Rob Steenwyk, Laura Selby, Nicholas Steenwyk, Barbara Holquist holding Abby Mertes and Hannah Fisher with Jimmy Ashe. - Herald photo by Rose Hooper
Members of the Sarah Allen group at First Baptist Church of Sylva like to say that people who think time drags should join their organization. For them, the first Friday in June seems to come around every other week. That is the date of the annual World Hunger Luncheon, which they sponsor. This, the 16th year of the event, falls on June 7, and again it will be held in the church fellowship hall, which is now handicapped accessible with the new elevator. The menu remains the same - beans, potatoes, coleslaw, cornbread and the fixings. The men of the church will continue to prove their ability as cooks. The only change is an increase in the price. "The group voted to ask $5 simply because the need is so great," said Sandra James, project chairman. Prior to the vote, James passed along the following statistics gathered from the Southern Baptist Convention: The World Bank estimates that 1.3 billion people live in absolute poverty, with incomes of no more than $1 a day. The number rises to nearly 3 billion when the income is set at $2 a day. The result is that 19,000 children die every day from malnutrition or its effects, James said. In developing countries, one out of every 10 children will die before his or her fifth birthday. Almost all the money taken in from the luncheon is profit, thanks to the generosity of local grocery stores, wholesalers and church members who donate food to the luncheon, James said. Last year, $2,543 was cleared. Of that amount, 40 percent went to United Christian Ministries, while the remaining 60 percent was divided between the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund and that of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. "Every penny sent to the three relief agencies goes for food; none is spent on administrative costs," James said. Probably more than half of the meals served during the luncheon are takeouts. Government agencies, store personnel, doctors' and law offices and other groups call in at 586-2095 to have their orders ready to be picked up at a certain time. Meanwhile, those who come to the church find fellowship around the table as they visit with old friends and meet new ones. Serving hours are 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. |