Dear New McKendree Church Family, 

For over a decade, New McKendree has brought our community together by hosting Jackson’s Feed My Starving Children food-packing event. This past March, we packed 233,280 meals alongside our community partners—enough to provide a daily meal for 639 children for a year. What a meaningful example of what we can accomplish together!

On March 19–20, 2027, we will once again host the Jackson Community Food Pack at the Jackson Civic Center. We invite area churches to participate again and hope to build on last year’s involvement from 23 other churches and organizations. Eighth graders from Jackson Junior High School will also return to pack meals during the school day on March 19. This will mark their sixth year of serving others through this event. Our Jackson schools are committed to graduating “Givers” rather than “Takers,” and this partnership gives students a firsthand opportunity to experience the value of serving others. It is a wonderful way for our community to support our students as they help others.

Making this event possible requires a significant financial commitment. New McKendree has pledged to fund at least the first 100,000 meals, costing $29,000. Thanks to your generosity, we already have $9,745 toward that goal. This year’s Thanksgiving offering will support this commitment and help turn our gratitude into meals for children in need.

Our mission at New McKendree is “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” Helping meet a child’s need for food is one tangible way to live out that mission. Through our relationship with a church and community near Bois Dioute, Haiti, many in our congregation have traveled there to help make disciples of Jesus Christ. During those visits, our teams have prepared and served meals provided by Feed My Starving Children. We have seen firsthand the difference these meals make.

As we gather around our Thanksgiving tables, let us give thanks for the food before us and remember children who face each day without enough to eat. By giving to this year’s Thanksgiving offering, we can help put food on their tables, too.

I am confident that together we can meet our goal and that God will use our hands and feet to make a difference in our community, our nation, and our world. I am grateful to serve alongside a church family that responds to God’s call with generosity and love.

Blessings,

Todd Rushing

Lay Leader