Food insecurity is a problem that faces many throughout the world. But locally, a group of churches is working to raise both awareness and food donations for the hungry.

United Methodist churches in northern Beaufort County partnered to host a “Can-struction” event. The churches collected money amongst their congregations and purchased around 2,000 cans of food that will be donated to Eagle’s Wings of Washington, a local food pantry, and Martha’s Thrift Store in Belhaven, according to Jim Reed, pastor of Asbury United Methodist Church.

“Basically, it’s to bring awareness to the food needs of Beaufort County,” Reed said.

Members and leaders of First United Methodist Church, Ware’s Chapel United Methodist Church, Horton Trinity Methodist Church, Asbury UMC and Bethany UMC met Friday at Piggly Wiggly in Washington to build a Quaker Oats replica, made of around 1,300 cans. Piggly Wiggly owner Wayne McKinney aided the churches in ordering the cans and gave them room to build the 7-foot display, which will be up through Dec. 4 at the store.

“We’re just glad to be able to participate and bring awareness to (food insecurities in the county),” McKinney said.

Nationally, one in five people goes to bed hungry, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. In Beaufort County, one in every four people goes to bed hungry, a statistic that has been tackled by Eagle’s Wings and the services and outreach it conducts. Beaufort County is identified as a strikeforce county by the USDA, meaning it is food insecure with a potential for a lot of the population to go hungry.

Reed said he hopes the event will spotlight the needs in the county and encourage other churches to conduct similar events.

“We’re hoping it will catch on with some of the other churches,” Reed said. “There are lots of opportunities for us to help become part of the puzzle to make sure people have food. No one thing is going to solve it all, but you need each piece to make it work.

The “Can-struction” event is part of an ongoing mission, in which Asbury UMC participates. Ruby’s Garden, a garden maintained by the church, is used to help supply fresh vegetables to Eagle’s Wings and Zion Shelter kitchen, which, in turn, supply those in need in the area. The church also participated in a mobile café initiative that is part of a summer feeding program in the county and distributes meals to Eastern Elementary, the Boys and Girls Club and other places to feed local children during the summer, Reed said.

“With all the feeding ministries, I think of Jesus, when the crowd of 5,000 folks was there, and he told his disciples to feed them using five loaves of bread and two fish. In many ways, it’s really up to us to clothe the naked and feed the hungry. Matthew 25: 35 also comes to mind: ‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.’ Those two images, to me, are very strong, as far as our responsibility to look out for those on the margins, those who are struggling and in need.”