May 19, 2012

Project ARK, partnering with Christ United Methodist Church and the surrounding Chattanooga area, helped bag 42,000 lbs of sweet potatoes.  The sweet potatoes were gleaned by the Society of St. Andrew and were distributed to 150 locations across the nation.  This event helped feed tens of thousands of people across the United States.  The students found that having this many sweet potatoes gathered together along with other elements of harvested food has an aroma a bit less pleasing than when they are prepared with butter and brown sugar.


We would like to say thank you to Christ United Methodist Church for providing the opportunity, the Society of St. Andrew for gleaning and caring for the poor, and for the Chattanooga Food Bank and volunteers that helped make the process so much smoother.

January 22, 2011

We spent Friday evening preparing 10 roasts (50 lbs), potatoes, and carrots. This cooked all night in crockpots. Saturday morning, we placed all of it in insulated containers and drove to Miller Park downtown at 12 noon. We had 15 high school students serving roast, vegetables, lemonade, coffee, bananas, and cookies to about 75-80 people. It was a good day serving and sharing. We also handed out socks, clothes, blankets, and hats to whoever needed them.

December 11, 2011

Saturday, December 11, 2011: Project ARK teamed up with members from the Youth Choir to go caroling to our friends at the Mary Walker Towers. It was so much fun! We arrived to an awaiting crowd gathered in their dining hall. After singing there and handing out gift bags, we went floor by floor (about 15 floors total) singing and handing out more gift bags door to door.

THIS is what it is all about. Not just the singing and giving gifts- that's the fun part. It's about getting outside of our insulated bubbles, investing time in others, sharing our hearts, and learning to love as God intended. It's about getting to know folks on a personal level and building relationships- the way God does with us.

Thanks to everyone who came and helped assemble 120 gift bags and sang their hearts out. A special thanks to Christina for leading us in song even with her injured arm in a sling!

November 13, 2010

We spent the afternoon of Saturday, November 13 preparing and serving a hot dog lunch and playing bingo with our friends at the Mary Walker Towers downtown. Winners received prize gift bags! A great day of sharing and fellowship.

October 9, 2010

Project ARK joined forces with brothers and sisters from 6 other churches representing almost as many denominations. We served hamburgers and hot dogs to approximately 35 to 40 of our homeless friends. The cookout was held in the parking lot of First Baptist Church downtown. First Baptist was very gracious to offer their facilities to everyone for this event. Yes, we served food. But, more importantly, we sat down and shared the meal and conversation with our guests. As Henri Nouwen said, "It is truly possible for Christians to overcome divisions around a common table that excludes no one." How true. It was a blessing being a part of this day of ecumenical unity in service to the poor and homeless.

September 11, 2010

September 11, 2010- 7 of us joined forces with Unity in the Community to help a homeowner in East Lake clean up her yard and plant a flower garden. It was hot and sweaty work- just what we like. Project ARK helps us to see that tools of the kingdom often include weed-eaters, shovels, rakes, and the like. But even better, we more often get to see that hugs are an amazing tool of the kingdom! Amen.

April 2010- Mary Walker Towers

Saturday, April 24, 2010: We had 10 youth and 3 adults to help serve lunch to about 40 residents at the Mary Walker Towers downtown in their newly-renovated dining hall and kitchen area. We had a wonderful time serving and eating lunch together. We also had the opportunity to sing "Happy Birthday" to a resident who turned 100 that week. Another great day of blessings with our youth.