By Marie Mulvenna

Members of the Peachtree Presbyterian Church have been working hand in hand for some time now with the St. Vincent de Paul Society in a rather special ecumenical program that brings food to the needy and hungry of Atlanta. Last year’s assistance from the congregation of 3,500 ran over $2,000 in cash and close to 5,000 cans of food.

The program, known popularly as “Can-A-Week,” actually began about seven years ago in the Roswell Road church in response to crisis for food when all Atlanta churches of all denominations were called upon for their assistance. The Peachtree church responded favorably and continued their response, growing from a once a month collection of canned goods to the present weekly program Ken Sapp, an elder of the church and chairman of its Witness Committee, said the project was an outreach of the church’s internal committee. Sapp has been administering the program for the past two years and noted it was continuing to grow as viable means of tending to the needs outside the Presbyterian community by working closely with other groups and organizations.

“This is one of the most tangible things we have done,” Sapp said, adding that the “Can-A-Week” drive is held in addition to other drives and campaigns within the church. No matter what the cause, Sapp said, “this program of the Presbyterian congregation also contributes $40 to $50 weekly, boosting the total of aid to St. Vincent de Paul substantially.

Just this year, the drive for food went from can contributions monthly to canned goods weekly. Sapp said that during the past fiscal year the church had exceeded in one month what it had collected in a full year previously. Each year, he noted, it increases steadily.

Joe Flanagan, executive secretary of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, recalled the beginning of the program and said it first began in 1968 or 1969 when a drive was held in all the churches of the city to meet a severe crisis for food needs. Several churches continued their response to the needy and one of those was Peachtree Presbyterian. Sapp explained that the idea of helping with food donations to the local society on a regular basis was approved by the session, the governing body of the Presbyterian Church.

Flanagan said one success factor in the drive for food was Sapp’s approach to the program and the way he publicizes it to members of the congregation. Each week, four brightly decorated grocery carts are placed at strategic traffic points in the large church where people can drop off their contribution. The carts are adorned with catchy signs lest anyone pass by without seeing them. In each cart, Sapp has also provided a small bucket for monetary donations. In addition to the four bright grocery carts are some equally bright containers supplied in each Sunday school class where younger members of the congregation do their part in the campaign.

Dr. John L. Newton, an associate minister at the church, said the church congregation liked the program and felt it was an ideal way to reach into other parts of the community that they could not otherwise reach. “We have several outreach programs,” he said, adding that “we’re grateful to St. Vincent de Paul for opening this particular door to us so we can food to those in need.”

In a letter to members of the Peachtree Presbyterian Church, published in their weekly bulletin, Flanagan said “under this food program, you create a spiritual bond between yourselves and the poor because you know that the can of beans or can of meat or can of vegetables that you take off your pantry shelf actually helps to feed a hungry family. Thus the blessing is twofold--the Lord’s recognition of your charity and the blessings of the poor who pray for their benefactors.” Flanagan told the congregation that calls for food increase daily at the society office, noting that in 1975 they were up over 50 percent from the year before and continuing to grow.

“We average about 100 cans a week,” Sapp said and when there is a specific need that is brought to the attention of the congregation through Flanagan. Sapp noted that one particular time there was urgent need for baby food and the members of the church responded accordingly.

Since the humble beginnings of the program some years ago, members of the Peachtree Presbyterian congregation have contributed approximately $15,000 worth of canned goods and monetary donations. That figure increases steadily, Flanagan says, as members of the church continue their weekly drive to aid the Society and the hungry of Atlanta.