Volunteers needed to pack meals for hungry
Feed My Starving Children, a Christian-sponsored organization, has received so much support in DuPage County that it's planning to expand.
Area residents will be able to participate in a whole new approach to worldwide hunger, thanks to the Minnesota-based organization's plans for the opening of an Aurora warehouse.
For now, volunteers for Feed My Starving Children can participate in a multi-day food packaging event today through Thursday at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 1500 Brookdale Road, Naperville.
Volunteers will work in two-hour shifts to pack 1 million meals that will be shipped to the Sudan.
"These meals are designed for severely malnourished children," said Heidi Seyer, marketing director for the organization. "They cost us 15 cents per meal and supply all their nutrients for a day."
The packing process involves combining rice, a soy product for protein that doesn't offend religious beliefs, chicken flavoring and dehydrated vegetables in a serving container.
The meal is hydrated with warm water and the final product resembles a dish like Rice-a-Roni, Seyer said.
Feed My Starving Children encourages people of all faiths to volunteer, and it partners with other humanitarian organizations to ship and distribute the meals to 45 countries around the world.
The project has grown to three locations in suburban Minneapolis. In 2006, the organization hosted 137,000 volunteers who packed 30 million meals. In addition, a mobile-packing unit visits churches and youth events around the country.
Because of this success, the organization has decided to open a warehouse location for packing meals at 555 Exchange Court in Aurora. The facility should be ready for public volunteers between Dec. 15 and Jan. 1, 2008, and will be able to host groups who want to impact world hunger.
The growth and popularity of the program in the Twin Cities inspired leaders to look at expanding into other geographic areas.
"It's unique in that all volunteers of all ages can come in and help pack food," Seyer said. "Youth groups, birthday parties, corporate groups -- anyone can participate. Kids especially enjoy volunteering because they get it."
The statistics for starving children are staggering, Seyer said. More than 18,000 children die each day from starvation or related causes. In the Sudan, 50 percent of all children under the age of 5 are malnourished. The organization funds its activities through donations, and 95 percent of all income goes to the feeding program, Seyer said.
Volunteers who want to help with the packing effort at St. Thomas the Apostle should call the church at (630) 355-8980.
For details about the opening of the Aurora location, contact Bea Peterson, the Chicago area director of development, at (847) 497-3278 or visit www.fmsc.org.
If you go
What:Feed My Starving Children is asking volunteers to pack 1 million meals for starving children. Volunteers can sign up for two hours today through Thursday at these beginning times: 11 a.m., 1:30 , 4 or 7 p.m. today; 9 a.m., noon, 3 and 6 p.m. Sunday; 9:30 a.m., 1, 4 and 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; 9:30 and noon Thursday.
Where:St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 1500 Brookdale Road, Naperville
Call:(630) 355-8980