In me red 'at (and 100 good people)
In me red 'at  AT  | ||
| (Formerly called "Stop Hunger Now"0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 100 good people were members and friends of St. Boniface Church on Siesta Key, Sarasota FL. (including two holiday makers from Barbados).
The task was to create 15,000 meal packs, each containing vitamin and mineral supplements, soy, dehydrated veggies, and rice - to be sent to places where hunger is a daily reality. (Ours were most likely to be sent to Haiti). Each meal pack contains enough (hardly exotic) ingredients to create six meals.
And we did it! Excluding set up and break downtime we created 15,000 + packs in under two hours. The "secret" was (a) goodwill and bonhomie, (b) seriousness of purpose, (c) excellent on the job training by JASON, our "Rise Against Hunger" Supervisor, and (d) a dedication to team work in small teams (no place for lone rangers). One team filled the bags using huge funnels and appropriately sized scoops. Another team weighed the bags, making sure that each one was at or near 385 grams. Another team (the one I joined) sealed the bags, using electric sealing machines. A fourth team packed the bags in cardboard boxes. Then there was a team of runners who moved the packs to the teams, and a team of sustainers who replenished supplies as and when they were needed. What a super morning. I daresay we had more fellowship today than at many a Church Service.
Completed packs  In addition we had an offering and raised more than $4,500 to help sustain "Rise Against Hunger" in its mission. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Here is a blurb from "Rise Against Hunger" and a link to their website. http://www.riseagainsthunger.org A HANDS-ON IMPACT ON WORLD HUNGER |
Rise Against Hunger’s meal packaging
program is a volunteer-based initiative that coordinates the assembly-line
packaging of highly nutritious dehydrated meals comprised of rice, soy, vegetables,
and 23 essential vitamins and minerals. The program was created to give
dedicated individuals and organizations — from businesses to civic clubs — the
opportunity to participate in a hands-on international hunger relief program
and to become educated, engaged advocates for the world’s hungry. The events
also give volunteers hands-on experience in leadership development,
team-building, relationship-building, creative problem-solving, and
goal-setting and achievement.
Since the inception of the meal packaging
program in December 2005, these packaged meals have been used primarily to
support school feeding programs in developing countries. Hunger is the common
thread among the world’s most challenging issues. Targeting hunger —
specifically by supporting school feeding programs — leverages support to other
causes including poverty, disease, education, and the welfare of women and
children.
HOW
IT WORKS
To get started in organizing a meal
packaging event, set a goal for the number of meals you will package, and
contact your local Rise Against Hunger program coordinator. Recruit volunteers
based on your goal. Then raise money for your event — only $0.29 cents for each
meal you package. Ask your program coordinator for fundraising ideas that work
and are fun. A group of 40 to 50 volunteers can package 10,152 meals in about
two hours. While the minimum is 10,152 meals, meal packaging events are easily
scalable and can package up to one million meals.
Rise Against Hunger meal packaging
events now can be held anywhere in the world as long as the host organization
has enough funding, volunteers, and locally-sourced ingredients to package at
least 10,152 meals. Meal minimum may change depending on the distance from a
warehouse and other fees and site requirements may apply to events beyond 100
miles away from a warehouse.
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