This year, Alcovy United Methodist Church, which uses the motto "The Little Church with the Big Heart,’’ decided to replace its traditional Christmas tree with one that is designed to feed the hungry.

Based on a idea suggested by the church’s choir director, the Rev. Danny Martin, the congregation is building a tree made of canned goods, with larger cans at the base and smaller cans at the top. On the Monday before Christmas, the "Christmas Tree Love Built" will be delivered to a local food pantry. Members plan to attach handmade ornaments to each can of food to give encouragement to those
receiving the canned goods.

In addition, the church’s Joy Class Sunday School class is encouraging members and others to donate to the food pantry in honor of those on their Christmas lists. Based on an idea from the book, "Christmas Isn’t Your Birthday," members are considering ways to present forks as gifts and as symbols of
support for the food pantry.

Several ideas are in the works for presentation of a fork with a note attached that says, "A donation has been made to the food pantry in your honor. Because of you, a family won’t go hungry this Christmas. Merry Christmas to you and yours.’’