RUMC members provide meals for hungry
Volunteers: More than 75 members of the Roscoe United Methodist Church volunteered their time on Sunday afternoon, March 22 to package meals for the hungry with Stop Hunger Now, a Raleigh, North Carolina based relief agency. Church members donated enough funds to secure 15,000 meals. Several church members are pictured on the packaging line. Music and laughter filled the fellowship hall of the church in the high energy environment as people worked. Beacon photo by Mark Fortune
COSHOCTON – Members of the Roscoe United Methodist Church donated enough funds – over $4,500 – to secure 15,000 meals for the hungry in partnership with Stop Hunger Now. The relief agency is based in Raleigh, North Carolina and brings the rice, soy, vitamin packets and all the items necessary to package the meal packages 36 to a box – with six servings per pouch.
Over 75 volunteers ranging from youth to senior citizens started packing meals at 1 p.m., finishing around 2:30 p.m. This followed a meal prepared by several ladies of the church
Andrew Moser, who is with Stop Hunger Now, said about the effort, “They’re great. They were waiting for me when I pulled up in the truck. Everyone was eager to help unload and set up. We even started 20 minutes early.”
Stop Hunger Now works in 65 different countries. It could go to any of them, South America, Asia, or Africa. Most of them go to what we call transformational programs. That is anywhere from schools to orphanages to vocational schools. And the reason for that is we want to provide not only nourishment for people for a short time but also opportunities to better themselves and their families.
“We’re transforming communities through this work in supporting the schools and vocational programs.”
“Inside each package is rice, soy protein, dehydrated vegetables and a packet of 22 vitamins and minerals. We call that the heart of the meal – it gives nutrition to a malnourished person and helps boost their immune system which is often compromised.”
“Some of our staff members have seen these meals used in Haiti – millions of meals they said.”
Moser concluded, “My favorite part of this program – you have the opportunity right here at your home church – in your own community with friends and family – to do a project that very directly impacts someone thousands and thousands of miles away that is in great need. It is just a unique opportunity.”
Roscoe UMC Pastor Dale Sutton said, “I’m just amazed at the number of people that are out. And from all ages, little kids to people in their 80s. Everyone is having fun and working hard. This is great. Our goal was 10,000 meals minimum – $3,000 – we surpassed that and we’ve actually surpassed 15,000 meals – $4,500 – so we’ll have some money left over to go to a local food pantry so we can feed people locally as well as around the world. This just warms my heart – it feels great, I love it.”
Nathan Sauerbrey, one of the many youth that helped at the event, said, “This will benefit the hungry so that someday they can become just like us. I thought it was just really amazing.”
He was one of the volunteers that got to ring the gong – which was a sign that another 1,500 meals was packaged – he said of that experience, “It was just amazing.”
You can find out more about the agency at www.stophungernow.org.
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