Fighting hunger a pack at a time

With a goal of over 200,000 meals being distributed worldwide to families in need, South Adams is preparing to move forward with their Mobile Pack through Feed My Starving Children. This event will be occurring throughout March 16th and 17th, with community members having an opportunity to kick the service project off on Thursday night before the students take time throughout the school day to participate on that following Friday.

The announcement of the Mobile Pack dates comes after the conclusion of the South Adams Future Farmers of America canned food drive for the event. In addition to the cans that were raised in the initial fundraiser, the First Bank of Berne agreed to donate a dollar per can raised all the way up to a max of $5,000. The drive exceeded the goal number by 47 cans, totaling 5,047 that were collected in all.

The listed goal that the Mobile Pack has is to provide 209,952 meals, equaling $61,000. There is a fundraising page on the Feed My Starving Children website where members of the community can donate to the cause. The site notes that the South Adams Mobile Pack has already raised over $35,000.

In response to the 6,200 children who die each day from hunger-related causes, according to UNICEF, Feed My Starving Children began as a Christian non-profit organization committed to feeding starving children hungry in body and spirit. The organization keeps the process simple: The funds are first donated for the meal ingredients, then volunteers hand-pack meals at various locations. At this point meals are donated to FMSC food partners around the world and the hungry are fed.

The community pack session will open from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on March 16th and will take place at the South Adams High School Gymnasium. All those who are interested in participating should contact Ashley Buckingham at abuckingham@southadams. k12.in.us.