The response to our first food packaging event was overwhelming. We had to request a third packing line from the headquarters to accommodate the  volunteers that just kept calling. All together, we packed 14,904 meals and raised $1,348. Donations continue to come in. That is a lot of children that will not miss a meal.

Where did the food go? We kept some of the meals right here in Moose Lake, at the Food Shelf.  We are getting some of them to the Union Gospel Mission in Duluth.  One full pallet was sent back to the headquarters. That's our pallet in the picture at the warehouse. We will allow them to use their distribution network to ship those meals internationally. This saved us the direct expense. Some of our funds support the headquarters, so it still is not "free". We will try to keep track of where it ends up, and will let you know.

Unfortunately, children continue to die every few seconds. We hope that someday our work will be done. But as long as Hurricanes continue to destroy crops and droughts destroy land and people try to prevent others from getting a decent meal, we will be needed. .

What did it cost?
When all costs are considered, shipping, office expenses and other fees, it averages out to 25 cents per meal. So, the cost of this event was $3,726. 

I hope there will come a day when we don't need to do this work. There will always be neighbors in need of our help. There will always be natural disasters that temporarily interrupt our lives and call us into action to assist those affected. Some of those events happen overnight, wiping out crops that were ready to harvest. Some of them play out over a longer period, slowly drying out fertile soil. 

Some situations are more complicated, taking years to develop and involve a combination of natural and human forces. We are learning more about how a healthy forest supports healthy agriculture and how a healthy economy involves more than just factories. In all of this, it is important to remember that young children did not make the choices that led to their impoverished situation.

To be able to correct the mistakes of the past and to implement the solutions that are starting up now, kids need to be able to go to school, they need to be able to think, and to do that, they need to be healthy. The vitamins and protein packed in to a Kids Against Hunger meal supports that. Once the downward spiral of starvation begins, special dietary needs must be met to save a life.

Kids Against Hunger meals contain all 9 essential amino acids required for complete nutrition. Each meal also contains 21 vitamins and minerals. These can prevent the devastating affects of malnutrition such as blindness and save lives.

Your board. Members are right here in the area, if you have any questions, just ask.

John Wolforth
Sarah Herrick
Chris Ripley
Dan Grindy
Dawn Westerberg
Jennifer Shanedling

What we need to make it happen:

You

Trailer - for bringing the events to surrounding communities

Photo quality printer

Please check back for updates

We couldn't have done it without your help. 

In advance of our first event, we received some significant donations.  On the night before, a group that helps people in the area get their stuff from here to there, known as the Covenant Movers, unloaded a van of equipment and 50 lb. bags of rice and soy in just a few minutes. We set up in the Moose Lake High School gym and got some tips from the staff from headquarters. The next morning, the volunteers showed up and just kept coming. Some of them got a little competitive, claiming they were the fastest team, but it was always in the spirit of fun and of saving the lives of children. The hardest part was having to tell people that their hour was up and they would have to let another group come in and take over. When we were done, we packed it all up in a storage bin supplied by Don Jusczak.

Now its time to start planning the next event.

The type of event we just did is not the type that we can do every time.  The big group that came in from Hope Lutheran Church was a big help, and we will need to continue to find partners like them. People right now are doing the fundraising for administrative costs, ordering the materials, organizing the volunteers, creating marketing material and lots of other things.

Fundraising for an event and recruiting volunteers are two of the most important activities that you can do.  By contacting us and telling us that you have a team of 10 people who are ready to pack for a couple hours and are able to raise a few hundred or a few thousand dollars, that tells leaves us free to simply produce the event. To put on a complete event, we would like more than one team, but we will work with anyone who is willing and able to help.

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Major Donations:

Sonshine Closet
Covenant Sunday School
Hope Lutheran Youth