A church both nurtures its congregation and spreads the teachings of Christ through its outreach, and St. Peters Episcopal Church did just that last weekend with its second annual Polar Plunge.

Sixteen members of the church’s congregation met on the banks of the Tar River at the Washington home of John and Katherine Tate to jump into the 40-degree water, in the process raising money to provide food to 16,000 people overseas.

Each participant was asked to get $100 in sponsorship money for the jump. Through Stop Hunger Now, an organization that works to end world hunger, the money purchases food for those in need around the world, according to Judy Van Dorp, coordinator for the fundraiser. Those parishioners at the church who didn’t jump, contributed donations toward the cause, as well, Van Dorp said.

Stop Hunger Now accepts the money and, in turn, sends the church rice, dehydrated vegetables and vitamins to be packaged, sealed and sent to people through Stop Hunger Now. The church will come together March 19 to package the food, according to Dorp.

“I think, as a congregation, we feel like it’s our duty or mission to reach outside of the walls of the church and even outside of our community,” Van Dorp said. “The kind of poverty in third-world countries is nothing like what we experience here (in Beaufort County). Stop Hunger Now, one of the places they put a lot of focus on is feeding children so they can learn, so a lot of the packages go to schools in the effort to help them learn better.”

The church previously hosted a chicken dinner fundraiser, but wanted to find a fresh, creative way to get people excited about raising money for the mission, Van Dorp said. Last year, in the midst of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge’s popularity, the church decided to revamp its fundraising initiative.

“We thought we’d do one better and jump in the river,” Van Dorp said.

Mary Parker Liles, on of Saturday’s Polar Plunge participants, said the fundraiser was such a success last year, the church decided to continue it.

“It brings the church together in a fun way,” Liles said. “It gives you a challenge. For me, it’s just fun to jump into a river that’s 40 degrees and while doing that, you’re helping somebody else, and it brings awareness to world hunger.”

Jim Reed, the priest at St. Peters, said the fundraiser is just one piece of the puzzle in terms of reaching outside the community.

“(The church) also exists for people who aren’t members,” Reed said. “That’s pretty much the gospel mandate from Jesus to his disciples. It’s supposed to be reaching out to the world with the gospel by spreading the word and loving people and showing that love by sharing what we have. I think the really great thing about (the Polar Plunge). It’s a really fun way to get it started.”