Last January, Hilmar Covenant Church packed over 300,000 meals for hungry kids around the world through the Christian organization, Feed My Starving Children. HCC will continue its missionary work this January with a goal of packing over half a million meals.
In order to meet their goal of raising $110,000 to cover the cost of the meals, HCC is holding a Hymnathon from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at Turlock Covenant Church.
“It’s like any other 'thon' event,” said HCC Associate Pastor Dan Johnson. “Sponsors are asked to donate an amount of money per hymn — 10¢, 25¢, 50¢, etc.”
Hymnathon participants will sing two verses of 50 hymns in two hours accompanied by the choir members from Hilmar and Turlock Covenant Churches.
“If just 200 singers each sign up $150 from sponsors, $30,000 will be raised, just by singing songs to God,” said Johnson. “At 22¢ per meal, this will provide over 136,0A00 meals for Feed My Starving Children.”
In January, 1,500 volunteers from Merced to Escalon packed over 303,000 for FMSC. Meals consisted of a mixture of rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables and a chicken-flavored mixture that includes 20 essential vitamins and minerals. Volunteers packed Covenant’s gym for two days putting the meals together. Each meal cost 22 cents to make and the meals are shipped to 70 countries.
Johnson said the church’s initial goal was to provide about 100,000 means and raise $24,000 for FMSC. He never imagined the cause would grow as large as it did. By December the church community, Hilmar Cheese Company and Associated Feed of Turlock teamed up to donate $39,000.
The meals are delivered to children via partnering missions and agencies.
“The meals are the first step so then organizations can provide education, healthcare and business development to poverty stricken areas,” said FMSC Mobile Pack Team Leader Marty Page.
The Hymnathon will be one of a series of fundraisers that will take place within the next few months.
“Everyone is invited to come and sing. It promises to be a worshipful and fun event,” said Johnson.
The Hymnathon will be held at Turlock Covenant Church, located at 316 S. Laurel St., Turlock. For more information about the event, call Hilmar Covenant Church at 668-0400.
