As part of its relationship with the Presbytery of the Peaks, First Presbyterian Church participates in the Two Cents-a-Meal program. The Two Cents-a-Meal offering is collected at FPCLY on the last Sunday of each month at the conclusion of worship. It is an opportunity for worship attendees to prayerfully contribute what would equal a few cents for each meal they ate that month to help alleviate hunger and poverty.
From the Presbytery's website, "The Two Cents-a-Meal concept originated with Presbyterian women to provide an opportunity for individuals and families to participate in a corporate response to world hunger. The Presbyterian Women’s Birthday Offering funded a hunger program that started the Hunger Action Enabler network in 1973. In November 1975, Florida resident Rosellyn Calvert, whose own family was struggling financially, asked God what she could do to help those suffering from hunger and poverty around the world. She was led to give just two cents a meal. The Calvert family committed to each give two cents, and in April of 1976 Rosellyn shared the concept with her presbytery. Today, most presbyteries encourage the contribution of two cents (or more)per person at each meal, reminding individuals, families and groups each time they eat of the needs of others and our call to respond as Christians to their hunger." A portion of the annual collection is distributed locally in Lynchburg through grants to various hunger and poverty relief organizations.
