By Sara Schulten

It has been five years since Marguerite and John Oberg started Five for Food to raise money for the poor and hungry in the archdiocese.

Working with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, they have collected over $140,000 and used to purchase food for those in need.

John and Marguerite, a long-time member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, were having a cocktail party during the 1981 Christmas holidays when the idea came to them. Most people are very generous during the holidays, but as Marguerite points out, "People are hungry every day of the year, not just Thanksgiving and Christmas."

Consequently she proposed the idea to her friends of giving $5 a month, $60 a year. They agreed to give the money and she and her husband agreed to do the work of buying the food. The Obergs figured if they could get 500 families or individuals to give $5 each month, they could raise $30,000 a year for the hungry. As a result, Five for Food was born.

Marguerite presented the idea formally to the archdiocese in February, 1982, and won approval to write letters to the pastors of all the parishes explaining the need for food that exists in the archdiocese, especially to help feed young children and the elderly. The pastors, in turn, put notices in their Sunday bulletins. In addition, The Georgia Bulletin profiled Five for Food as it was starting out. From this exposure, the Obergs were able to get the idea off the ground. As Marguerite recalls, "My first deposit was $700."

The uniqueness of the project is that all donations go toward the purchase of food. With Marguerite handling the bookkeeping and the volunteers helping each month, there are no administrative costs. Both she and John are quick to point out they couldn't carry it off without the help of student volunteers from St. Pius X High School and of the women at the St. Vincent de Paul Society's downtown office.

Once a month, the Obergs do their grocery shopping. They first stop at the Atlanta Community Food Bank and get what they can. Many large groceries donate food to the Food Bank which then makes it available to churches and soup kitchens. Marguerite said that she then places her order with wholesale grocers in College Park for the remainder of what she needs. "Stores are very good to us," as Five for Food buys groceries in large quantities, Marguerite said.

Once the shopping is completed, the St. Pius students meet the Obergs at the St. Vincent de Paul Society office at Central Presbyterian Church in Atlanta to help unload the truck. The food is then distributed to needy families and individuals through St. Vincent de Paul. Many are referred by city and state agencies.

"We're not trying to feed (the same) people on a monthly basis," Marguerite explained. "We're there to be a service for them in need -- to get over the hump."

John added that often the food they supply helps supplement aid received from the government. But the need is greater than the food supplied. According to Marguerite, "Summer months are very sparse. Even now, we have to turn people away at the end of the month; we have no food." They would like to add 100 new monthly contributors.

Although most of the food goes to the hungry in Atlanta, "we try to encourage other parishes who are not in the metro area to use our food," John said. Some goes to The Place in Cumming to help feed the hungry in rural areas. Some is distributed through Catholic Social Services to elderly shut-ins.

The Obergs are grateful for their faithful supporters and volunteers. Many members of the St. Joseph's Hospital auxiliary are contributors. "A limited number of priests and Religious are regular contributors," said Marguerite, but as John added, "We wish there were more."

Since thank-you notes would be costly, Marguerite writes little notes of thanks on the top of checks contributors send. But there is one supporter the Obergs are unable to thank. An anonymous donor has been sending $200 to $300 in cash every month to Five for Food since its start. The donations always come in the same kind of envelope with a note enclosed praising God. Contributions come from as far as Nicaragua and Nevada, from people who gave while they lived in Atlanta and continue their gifts since they've moved away. But new members are needed "so that we don't have to turn people away at the end of the month."

The address is Five for Food, St. Vincent de Paul Society, P.O. Box 10494, Atlanta, GA 30310. For any further information about the project, contact Marguerite Oberg at 404-233-3525.