On Sunday, church members brought non-perishable food items they purchased with the money they saved. The project resulted in more than 450 pounds of food that were donated last week to the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry at Huntersville United Methodist Church.

The Give Up to Give Back weekend marked the beginning of planning and preparation for the church’s 30th annual World Hunger Day on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. The day will include a massive yard sale, barbecue, silent auction, bake sale, craft sale, entertainment and more. All funds from the event are used to help fight hunger locally and internationally.

The church is now accepting delivery of yard sale items on Friday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m., and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. at the church gym. Anyone with larger furniture items for pick-up or who wish to donate the entire inventory left over from their own yard sale should contact Ron Morris at 704-608-3169.

Items for the silent and live auctions are also needed. Local businesses, neighborhoods, other churches and community members are encouraged to donate items such as vacation packages, tickets to sporting events and entertainment venues, gift cards, themed gift baskets, handmade treasures and more.