A simple notice sent out to area churches seeking help for the Union Mission to restock its pantries has turned into an area-wide drive to help the organization.

Called Feed Your Neighbor, the pledged-base event is seeking donations to the mission of at least $6, which one of the organizers, Geoffrey Hardee, says is about the average cost of a fast food combo meal.

“A couple of weeks ago the Union Mission sent an appeal to local churches to help with their expenses and food pantry,” said Hardee, who has organized the event with his wife, Heather. “Our pastor at Rosemary Methodist read this and Heather and I started talking.”

The Union Mission, Geoffrey said, not only provides life skill training to homeless men but also feeds families across the Roanoke Valley daily.

Hardee is hoping Feed Your Neighbor can feed off the energy created by the Chick-Fil Appreciation Day that was held across the nation Wednesday at the urging of former Governor Mike Huckabee. “All of a sudden Chick-fil-A came along and Christians everywhere were energized and that’s fine.”

While the Hardees support the free speech and Christian values at the center of the appreciation day, “We couldn’t help but wonder how many homeless people were bypassed by people on their way to get chicken nuggets.”

After talking to the Chick-fil-A manager, who confirmed the price of a basic combo, the Hardees decided to launch the Feed Your Neighbor campaign. “We’re calling on those across the Roanoke Valley, especially those who went to Chick-fil-A. True Biblical values are feeding the hungry and serving the helpless. While it’s OK to support Don Cathy (senior vice president of the company) it’s vitally important to show we’re sincere in supporting all Biblical values including feeding the hungry.”

Heather, in a Facebook post, said, “More than a week ago a Facebook invite went out to Christians all over the country asking them to support Chick-fil-A … While we support the right of the people to do this, we can’t ignore the fact that thousands of hungry people still went hungry and needs of those less fortunate were not met.”

Heather says this is not political, “We just believe it’s the right thing to do.”

The Reverend LaCount Anderson, director of the mission, said, “I’m just humbled. From my perspective the Union Mission belongs to the people of God.”

The Union Mission gives out 700 boxes of food every month, Anderson said. “It’s been a challenge but the need is there. I’m very proud of what’s going on.”

Anderson said the Hardees called him and he liked the idea. “We’re wide open. As far as the work is concerned, as in every business in town, it takes money to run with the cost of living and the economy. We’re doing fine, it’s just a huge challenge. The food pantries are low. The Food Bank of North Carolina is low.”

In addition to monetary donations, the mission is low on canned goods — beans, corns and vegetables, things Anderson said you would want to put on someone’s dinner plate.

The food boxes go to people in need, including the elderly. “It is going great,” he said, “But there is a price to that and that is funding. When the economy goes down the need for our service goes up.”

For more information contact the Union Mission at 252-537-3372. Monetary donations can be made through this link.

More information on Feed Your Neighbor can be found on Facebook.