200 people gathered together in a small elementary school gym to face one of the biggest issues in America – child hunger. 1 in 3 children will go hungry when their school is not in session. In Lane County, the majority of the students in the public school system are on the national free and reduced lunch program. With numbers like this it is easy to see why some passionate community leaders have taken on the challenge of overcoming child hunger in the greater Eugene/Springfield community. 6 churches teamed up to make the event happen (Northpark Community Church, Eastside Faith Center, Willikenzie Community Church, The Beautiful Mess Church, The Awakening, and Garden Way Church) and they invited members of the community to join in on the action. 13 NCU students decided to step up and participate in the event. These students met up on campus, jumped into cars, and made the short drive across the river to help meet the needs of the community their university is nestled into. In just over an hour more than 10,000 meals were packaged for young students who, without the extra help, could go hungry. These meals will not only fill stomachs, but equip children in Eugene to stay healthy, grow, and succeed in school.
We are proud and grateful for our Beacons who chose to truly be beacons for the Kingdom by caring for others and connect with the greater Eugene community.