New Aurora-Naperville group aims to feed the world's hungry

Beatrice Pedersen has high expectations for her new service group.

In its first year, she hopes 160,000 volunteers pack 40 million meals at the Aurora-Naperville branch of Feed My Starving Children.

But if early response is any indication, she won't have a problem meeting her goal.

"We're well on our way there," she said Friday. "I'm sure we'll surpass it."

Pedersen is helping launch the first outside site of a Christian nonprofit group based in Minnesota that aims to feed the world's hungry children.

The 20,000-square-foot warehouse, at 555 Exchange Court near Route 59 and Liberty Street in Aurora, will open its doors to volunteers at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 15. A grand opening will be held in February.

The organization's three Twin Cities sites have grown tremendously in recent years, and leaders believe it's time to spread their work.

They plan to open 25 sites around the country in the next decade, and four would be based in the Chicago area.

Leaders were looking for areas with large church bases, and the Aurora-Naperville area was a top pick, Pedersen said.

Now the chapter is seeking volunteers to help pack meals in two-hour shifts Monday through Saturday.

The organization buys items like soy, vitamin mixture and rice in bulk, and volunteers assemble the food. Each meal costs about 15 cents, including supplies.

The food is sent to impoverished areas of the world, such as Ghana, Haiti and Indonesia. About 18,000 kids die daily from hunger, Pedersen said.

"We do believe we're doing God's work by feeding starving children," she said.

About 95 percent of all donations goes toward buying food, and leaders work with already established missions in foreign countries, rather than governments, to distribute it.

The group is partnering with churches such as Naperville's Good Shepherd Lutheran for packing sessions.

Volunteers have stepped up in many ways, Pederson said, such as an Eagle Scout building benches for handicapped volunteers or others offering to paint the facility.

"It's just wonderful, the volunteer spirit in this area," she said.

How to help

What:Feed My Starving Children is seeking volunteers to pack meals in two-hour sessions Monday through Saturday.

What else: In-kind donations, such as computers, a large-screen TV and DVD players, are welcome.

How to help: Visit www.fmsc.org or call Beatrice Pedersen at (847) 497-3278.