In Luke’s Gospel in the Feeding of the 5,000, Jesus’ disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late.  Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”  Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away.  You give them something to eat.” We, like Jesus, need not adopt a defeatist attitude before a crowd of people who needs to be fed. Nothing has changed, except the Lord’s expectation is being spoken to us- that’s you and that’s me.  If we bring what we’ve already been given, God will use our ordinary gifts to create extraordinary results!! Our resources are never too little!!! When we place our lives and resources before God in a spirit of obedience and sacrifice, no matter how insignificant the amount that we bring to the table, we can expect the result to be multiplied.  Caring for others in their hunger will be a manifestation of God at work in and through us.

As evidence of that multiplying effect, in the March 2023 & 2024 events at Sussex Central High School, the Sussex County Community Wide Food Packaging events called “Feeding the 5,000 Multiplied” raised over $75,000, had more than 640 volunteers who packaged 165,528 meals in those two days.  That food ultimately was sent to food distribution programs in Haiti and Zambia.   In collaboration with Rise Against Hunger, a 501©3 non-profit organization, the third annual event will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2025 in the Sussex Central High School Cafeteria with the goal of packing food to serve 100,000 people. There are two three hour packing sessions on March 8:  9:00-12:00 and 12:30-3:30.  If you wish to assist with set up on Friday, March 7 from 5-7 or clean up on March 8 from 3:30-4:30, volunteer sign up options are available on the link noted below.  This is an event in which adults of all ages, children 5 years & older and youth can participate. Should you have any questions about making contributions or volunteering to participate in the packing event, please contact Mike Hall at 302-604-3757, Judy Hall at 302-604-3670 or via email at jandmhall1227@msn.com.

To financially contribute to this event with credit card or ACH deduction, go to: https://events.riseagainsthunger.org/RAHSussex2025. To contribute by check, make checks payable to Rise Against Hunger and mail to Rise Against Hunger, 108 Darby Commons Court, Folcroft, PA 19032 with reference made to Event ID # 74725 on the memo line.  Every contribution matters!!  $50 provides 125 meals and $100 provides 250 meals. We need to raise $40,000 between now and March 7.  Your generous tax deductible financial support and your commitment to volunteer at the event will make it possible to impact the lives of at least 100,000 people in countries like Haiti, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Zambia, and Madagascar.  Join us and Rise Against Hunger in the effort to provide fortified, dehydrated, shelf-stable meals to areas of the world identified as food insecure.  We have and we can continue to make a difference in impacting the nutritional needs of many!!