Anything with Operation preceding it sounds like a military action, right?! Well, this is not KP duty, soldier, this is Operation Sandwich and it’s a campaign to quell hunger (if even for one day) in our homeless neighbors. Operation Sandwich does not require a General or any officer to organize, and in fact, some of our best annual organizers are the Character Council at the Beverly Woods Elementary School—3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th graders!

The Council has next week covered, with a planned 700 sandwiches a day, each individually wrapped with a cookie or two as an extra treat. It’s a great contribution and one that makes an impact on our neighbors every day. Operation Sandwich eases the burden on the Soup Kitchen and offers neighbors something ‘to go’ if needed. The Soup Kitchen is the initial point of contact for many of our neighbors and a very important setting for building relationships and trust—the first steps in ending homelessness.

One of the Character Council’s teachers, Beth Early, discovered the Soup Kitchen when it was located at St. Peter’s Episcopal on Tryon Street (before the Urban Ministry Center was founded). She was leading a group of Pineville Elementary second graders on a field trip to the Discovery Center when the students observed a line of people waiting for food. An open discussion about homelessness ensued and the children wanted to know how they could help.

Ms. Early, and those Pineville Elementary 2^nd Graders began supporting the Soup Kitchen with sandwich donations. Their support spread to other grades and schools, and today many others use Operation Sandwich as an important part of their service hours, ministry, or team building activities. In fact, last year, 300 groups and individuals contributed over 75,000 sandwiches to the Soup Kitchen!

We can use 700-800 sandwiches each day and have room for more donations. Ideally, sandwiches are individually wrapped, and delivered between 8-9am for use that day. We welcome deliveries of 800, but they are in no way required – you can make as many as you are able and we will combine/coordinate with other groups. Contact Sandra Smith to coordinate your day!