The Youth Group of St. John Catholic Church of Tryon will be participating in a Box Out on May 14 and 15 to raise awareness about hunger and homelessness both locally and globally. Their box out will begin on Friday evening, May 14 at 6 p.m. and continue through Saturday morning at 6 a.m.

They will camp out in front of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Parish Center. All technology and luxury will be left at home as they place themselves in the position of those in our community and around the world who spend every night in extreme hunger and poverty.

Boxes, bubble wrap and newspapers will be used in place of blankets, pillows, and comfortable beds. They will spend the night fasting and praying for those in need. Proceeds will benefit Feed-A-Kid Program of Polk County and the Shelter Box Program.

Feed-A-Kid Backpack Program provides school children of Polk County with weekly backpacks containing nutritional foods for some of the most at-risk kids in our community. Food packages are delivered to Polk County Schools and are distributed by teachers and counselors at the schools. For more information about the Feed-A-Kid Backpack Program call Thermal Belt Outreach.

ShelterBox is an international charity that provides emergency shelter and supplies for people affected by disasters worldwide. A standard ShelterBox contains a 10-person tent, insulated sleeping mats, thermal blankets, rope, a cook stove, a tool kit and other supplies for families that are displaced or homeless.The group will be able to track their shelter box to see where it is sent and who it will benefit.

Their goal is to raise $800 dollars for these organizations. If you would like to make a donation to this project, call Theresa Fitch, St Johns Youth Ministry, at 859-9574 ext. 7. If you would like to sponsor a member of our youth, they ask for a donation.