(From left) Chloe Helser, WCHS 10th grade; Hunter Haines, WCHS 10th grade; Brayden Sammons, WCHS 10th grade; Emma Manns, Edgewood Middle School eighth grade; and McKibben Lohse, Edgewood Middle School, eighth grade work to package meals as a team.
(Photo by Alyssa Richardson)
Students at Warsaw Community Schools, as well as community members, gathered yesterday and will gather again today at Madison Elementary to make a big difference. Adults and students alike are working side-by-side in an effort to pack meals for Feed My Starving Children, a non-profit Christian organization that is committed to feeding children hungry in body and spirit in 70 different countries. The goal of the event is to package 1 million meals for malnourished children around the world.
The endeavor would not have been possible without the vision of organizers Scott Sterk and David Wayne, Lincoln Elementary teachers. According to Wayne, the passion to bring the FMSC project to Warsaw began after Wayne visited Sterk’s church, Mill Creek Missionary Church in Rochester, to participate in a FMSC event held there. After leaving the church, Wayne stated that his daughter suggested bringing the initiative to Warsaw as well. Upon arriving home, Wayne received a call from Sterk who suggested the same idea. It was then that the two began to develop their dream to enrich the lives of others.
“This has exceeded our expectations,” stated Wayne, “We hoped for a big turnout but for it to become a reality is amazing.”
Students and volunteers work to label meal packs.
(Photo by Alyssa Richardson)
Set up for the event began on Wednesday at Madison Elementary when the WCHS golf and basketball teams set up the Madison gym as an FDA certified, food packaging station. Volunteers from local churches and organizations began packaging meals on Wednesday evening, packaging a total of 77,000 meals. Yesterday students from Warsaw Community High School, Edgewood Middle School, Madison Elementary School and Lincoln took to packaging meals, labeling meal packs and working the “warehouse,” where food is prepared for packaging and received and weighed after packaging has concluded.
“This event means a lot to me because we are feeding thousands of people. Its a blessing,” stated Crystal Juarez, 10th grade student at WCHS.
“You see all the commercials but you never take the time to help,” explained Jacob Elliot, Edgewood Middle School eighth grade student. “To actually be able to do something is big… you actually get to help.”
Today students from Lakeview Middle School, WCHS, Claypool Elementary, Eisenhower Elementary and Leesburg Elementary will package the “Manna Meal” packs in an effort to reach the 1 million packaged meal goal.
Cole Williamson, Edgewood Middle School eighth grade student, works to prepare food for packaging.
(Photo by Alyssa Richardson)
Packaging of meals will continue into Saturday and those interested in becoming involved in the project are encouraged to attend. Whether by yourself or in a group, volunteer spots are still open throughout various time slots on Saturday. A total of 94 volunteer spots are open from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.; 237 spots are open from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; and 295 spots are open from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Those interested in reserving a volunteer time slot may do so by visiting http://www.warsawmobilepack.com/ and clicking “Sign Me Up.”
“The point we want to drive home to the community is thank you, thank you, thank you,” stated Sterk, who explained the community’s involvement in helping the mobile pack take off. “We have the volunteers and materials and we are hoping for the money [to reach our goal].”
Donations are still being accepted and welcomed in order to reach the 1 million meal goal set by Sterk and Wayne. To donate, visit http://www.warsawmobilepack.com/. For more information on Feed My Starving Children, visit http://www.fmsc.org.