Waters Edge Methodist Church created a lofty goal of raising 4,080 canned goods during the season of Lent from March 5 through April 19 to benefit the local nonprofit HELP of Beaufort.  This small Beaufort-based church set a goal larger than the congregation of 75 families could ever have raise on their own knowing they would have to get help from the community.

[caption id="attachment_16432" align="alignleft" width="168"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/We-Can.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-16432" alt="Steve Curless, left, of HELP of Beaufort, and Lane Glaze, pastor at Waters Edge Methodist Church, hold a sign to show the church met its goal of 4,080 canned goods." src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/We-Can-168x300.jpg" width="168" height="300" /></a> Steve Curless, left, of HELP of Beaufort, and Lane Glaze, pastor at Waters Edge Methodist Church, hold a sign to show the church met its goal of 4,080 canned goods.[/caption]

The goal of 4,080 canned goods was inspired from the size of Beaufort’s iconic Hunting Island Lighthouse. By stacking canned goods 10 cans wide, it would take approximately 4,080 cans to build a tower as high as the lighthouse.  In order to achieve this lofty goal, the Waters Edge congregation reached out to schools, neighborhoods and work places asking for further help in gathering canned goods.

In 40 short days during Lent, a time in which Christians focus on tending to those in need, Waters Edge Methodist Church was able to make their goal.

“We talk a lot at Waters Edge about being a church that exists for our community, not so much for ourselves. Working together to build a tower of food as high as the Hunting Island Lighthouse has been an exciting challenge for our congregation, especially knowing how many people in our community need help with food every day. We are grateful to be able to partner with agencies like HELP of Beaufort that do so much to care for all who call this beautiful area home,” states Lane Glaze, pastor at Waters Edge.
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