HUNTERSVILLE – First Baptist Church-Huntersville recently held a Give Up to Give Back weekend to begin preparations for it 30th annual World Hunger Day observance on Sept. 24.

The weekend of July 29 to 31, the church encouraged members to participate in a 30-hour famine, which could include giving up food, a meal out, Internet, texting, a movie, golf or any type of sacrifice. On that Sunday, church members brought non-perishable food they purchased with the money saved, and the church delivered more than 450 pounds of food to the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry at Huntersville United Methodist Church.

On Sept. 24, a Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., the church will hold a giant yard sale, barbecue, silent auction, bake and craft sales and entertainment, with all proceeds going to fight hunger locally and internationally.

The church is accepting yard sale donations on Friday evenings from 6 to 8 and Saturday afternoons from noon to 4 p.m. at the church gym, 119 N. Old Statesville Road. Anyone who has larger furniture items for pick-up or wants to donate  items left from a yard sale should call Ron Morris at 704-608-3169.

The church also welcomes donations of items for the silent and live auctions, including vacation packages, tickets to sporting events and entertainment venues, gift cards, themed gift baskets, handmade treasures, signed sporting memorabilia and art. Call Chris Watson at 704-400-8060 to donate auction items.

To learn more about getting involved, call the church office at 704-875-6581.