Project 5000 is founded on an unforgettable experience in the life of Jesus — the feeding of the 5000. 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 5000. Project 5000 provides the opportunity for each us to get involved in helping collect food for the hungry in our local communities.

In the parable of the sheep and goats, Jesus said, “I was hungry and you fed me...,” explaining that “...when you did this for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me!” Hunger is not just a problem in India or other far-off places. It is a reality in our own local community and state. Requests for food assistance come regularly to our local social agencies and churches, and supplies of needed foods are often depleted and/or not available. There is a real need for balanced emergency food supplies.

Several churches are working together to help relieve the hunger situation in our local communities. Last year, the Inter-Faith Council provided 6,500 cooked meals each month at the Rosemary Street shelter. In addition, through its facility in Carrboro, the Inter-Faith Council distributed $25,000 worth of food each month to support 3,345 clients annually, and the need is increasing.

As a congregation at the Chapel of the Cross, we have the opportunity to help meet the real needs of our community by reaching out to help the hungry. When a need or problem touches us, we feel a genuine need to help. A touched heart needs an outlet for sharing, and Project 5000 provides a channel for sharing with those in need. Each box of food we collect will supply emergency food for a family of four for two days.

The Chapel of the Cross's goal for fall 2003 is to collect 400 boxes (10"x10"x10") of specific food items that will be distributed by the Inter-Faith Council to the hungry. Each box provides a two-day emergency supply of balanced foods for a family of four. Below is a summary of specific food items that will be included in each box:

2 cans meat (2 sizes: 12 and 24 oz.)
2 cans vegetables (14.5 oz. each)
2 cans fruit (15 oz. each)
1 can of pasta (15 oz.)
1 box macaroni/cheese or flavored rice (7.25 oz.)
1 box flavored rice (6 oz.)
2 cans of pork and beans (15 oz.)
1 box hot cereal (18 oz.)
1 package powdered milk (9.6 oz.)
1 package muffin/biscuit mix (8 oz.)
1 can non-frozen concentrate 100% fruit juice (11.5 oz.)
1 plastic jar peanut butter (18 oz.)
1 plastic jar of jelly (32 oz.)

Project 5000 offers you the opportunity to reach out to the needy and help show our congregation's concern and desire to help others who are less fortunate. The following message will be included in each Project 5000 box delivered to the Inter-Faith Council from the Chapel of the Cross: “In God's love the people of the Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill care about you.”

Please participate in this outreach project. Empty boxes are available for pickup after each service and after Church School until November 16. The Social Ministry Committee hopes that you will pickup your 'starter kit' box after church and return it the following Sunday filled with the items listed above. All filled boxes should be returned to the Chapel of the Cross by November 23 for final distribution to the Inter-Faith Council. There is no limit to the number of boxes you can fill.

For additional information about Project 5000, or if you would like to get involved in helping with this Social Ministry Committee project, please contact Frank Holt, fholt@bellsouth.net .

Send items for inclusion in future "Cross Roads."
The deadline is the first Thursday of the preceeding month.