Team members gather in front of the Bowers family home as they explain why they are there and what they can do during the service portion of the Thousand Ten Project in 2022.
Tribune file photo
One thousand people contributing $10 each equals $10,000.
Since the start of The Alley’s Thousand Ten Project 11 years ago, that has been the goal to help reach as many people as possible while living out the mission “Love God, love people.”
In teams of 10, those people take the money collected and go into the community to help those in need, whether it’s buying groceries, providing furniture or clothing, paying utility bills, mowing lawns or buying fuel.
That has always occurred on the second Saturday in September, and that will continue this year.
The 2023 Thousand Ten Project is set for Sept. 9. At 11 a.m., people are invited to gather in the fellowship center at First Baptist Church, 505 Community Drive, Seymour. Food will be available for a freewill donation, and live music by The Alley Sonworshippers will be provided.
Then at noon, the teams will be given directions of where to make an impact in the community.
How can you help? Form a team and have a captain submit names ahead of the event to Sara Bowling at 812-946-0258 or Tina Fleetwood at 812-216-1481.
“Even if they come the day of, that is encouraged, and we definitely would be happy to have that also,” Bowling said.
In 2022, Bowling said there were 25 teams.
“Our goal is always to have 100 team captains, which would bring 1,000 people because there are 10 people on a team,” she said.
Organizers have heard many testimonies from people who have participated in the Thousand Ten Project over the years.
“I’ve never met one person who came and participated that thought it was a waste of time,” Bowling said. “It’s a good time. It’s fun. We get together, we fellowship, we have lunch, we do a little bit of praise and worship and prayer and then we hit the road about 12 p.m.”
Besides teams, organizers are looking for families to help. If you or someone you know could use help from volunteers on Sept. 9, call Bowling or Fleetwood.
“I’ve got a couple names, but not very many,” Bowling said. “The more teams that show up, the more people that we can help.”
The Alley has seen a rise in the number of people being served in its kitchen each weekday, so the church knows there are people out there who could use a helping hand.
The deadline has passed to be a sponsor for the event and be recognized on the T-shirts that will be handed out to teams. Bowling said sponsors will be recognized at the event.
“We understand how difficult it has been over the past few years,” the church said in a letter to potential sponsors. “We fully expect the needs in our community to be greater in the coming months due to the state of our economy. … We cannot continue to provide for our community without your support.”
Donations are accepted throughout the year to benefit The Alley Kitchen. Mail to The Alley, P.O. Box 191, Seymour, IN 47274.
If you go
What: The Alley’s Thousand Ten Project
When: Noon Sept. 9 (food for a freewill donation and live music at 11 a.m.)
Where: Fellowship center at First Baptist Church, 505 Community Drive, Seymour
Who: Teams of 10 may preregister by calling Sara Bowling at 812-946-0258 or Tina Fleetwood at 812-216-1481; people also may show up the day of the event and register