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In conjunction with its youth group’s 30-Hour “Fast For Food,” United Church in Walpole hosted a meal packaging event on Saturday, February 6 for the benefit of Stop Hunger Now, an organization that has perfected a dried-meal package that can be shipped anywhere in the world to alleviate hunger.
In support of the six fasting youth, over 60 members of the congregation, ranging in age from 5 to 80, gathered in United’s fellowship hall, learned how to mix and package the rice-soy-dehydrated vegetable ingredients brought in by Stop Hunger Now, and over the course of two hours assembled more than 2,000 packages each containing enough food for six meals, for a total of 12,528 meals.
The three assembly lines for mixing, sealing, and boxing the meals were a scene of constant motion, laughter, chatter and even some dancing, with a lively music soundtrack in the background provided by Stop Hunger Now.
Based in Raleigh, NC, Stop Hunger Now has a warehouse and packaging facility in Marlborough, Mass., to which the youth group traveled last year and packaged over 5,000 meals that were ultimately shipped to Malawi, in southeast Africa.
The success of last year’s effort inspired the youth group to invite Stop Hunger Now to come to Walpole for an all-congregation meal packaging event.
That meant committing to raising at least $2,900 and packaging 10,000 meals, the threshold for bringing the event to an off-site location. The youth and the congregation exceeded that goal, raising over $3,600 and packaging 12,528 meals.
Those who attended expressed their enjoyment of the event, citing the fun, fellowship and sense of satisfaction with a hands-on effort to reach out and help others in need. A desire to repeat the event annually was heard over and over, which United Church plans to do in the wake of this success.
At the end of the day, the youth broke their 30-hour fast with a potluck supper prepared by their parents. United Church’s senior high youth group, known as Sr. Pursuit, has been participating in a 30-Hour Fast for 18 years.
During the 30 hours, the youth go without food (consuming only juice and water) from noon on Friday until 6:00 pm on Saturday. In this way, the youth experience for a brief time what far too many children and families all over the world face every day of their lives.
United Church in Walpole is an Open and Affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ. To learn more about the church and its activities, visit www.unitedwalpole.org. To learn more about Stop Hunger Now, visit their website at www.stophungernow.org.
