Leaders of small, rural churches often wonder if their efforts can really make a difference in the world. But in Polk City, Iowa—population 3,092—local pastors answered that question with a united effort fittingly named "We Can."
Birthed out of a food drive held last year at Polk City United Methodist Church (UMC), the We Can campaign this year brought together 29 churches throughout central Iowa from various denominations for one purpose: to combat hunger both locally and around the world. Each church took on the challenge of gathering 1,000 food items for a cumulative goal of 29,000.
"We wanted to see 29,000, which is the number of children who die every day of hunger and other preventable causes around the world," said Lee Schott, pastor of Polk City UMC. "We think that's a staggering number, and it changes us when we actually see it."
The final tally actually came to 34,055 food items, which was delivered to a nearby Des Moines emergency food pantry and a ministry for homeless people in central Iowa. Additional funds were collected during various church fundraisers, as well as a culminating rally on April 26, and given to World Vision to help feed hungry children around the world and change their communities.
"We hope We Can will be about more than just this one big food collection," said UMC member Shari Miller. "All of us can participate in the fight against hunger—by giving food, by sponsoring a child through World Vision and by working for policies that will end world hunger in our lifetime." [desmoinesregister.com, 5/5/09]
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