Looking beyond themselves

Local group of students package Food for Kidz to be sent to those in need around the world

 

 

 

 

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A PHOTO OF one of the packaged food packets.

Seven Mountain Lake students took time on Sunday afternoon, October 16 to look beyond themselves – far beyond – all the way to Pakistan, or Haiti. By doing so, they were able to make a difference in the lives of people; old and young they don’t even know.

The students – one fourth-grader, a seventh-grader, one eighth-grader, three freshmen and a junior – along with Nike Strom, Student Ministries Director at Alliance Church in Mountain Lake, traveled to the Tyler to partner with the Tyler Alliance Church at “The Rock,” joining other surrounding churches to pack meals for Food for Kidz, a non-profit organization located in Stewart.

Food for Kidz food packages contain a carefully-formulated mixture of nutritionally-sustainable ingredients that includes protein, rice, vegetables and seasonings. The food is parceled in packaging that insures it arrives fresh and ready to prepare with minimal supplies.

Because sustainability is important, Food for Kidz works closely with partners who focus on clean water and biofuel cooking stoves.

It’s the mission of Food for Kidz to package and distribute nutritious meals to hungry children and their families where crisis has struck and there is an immediate need. When situations like natural disasters, war and famine seem insurmountable, it’s important to remember that people, coming together with friends and family to package food and offer compassion, make a difference. The arrival of food from Food for Kidz is just the beginning of encouraging long-term change for people and families around the world. Regardless of how temporary the situation or how great the need, every decision made to touch the life of another begins a cycle of empowering change.

As Strom shares, “I like to do events like this as it encourages and challenges students to consider looking beyond themselves to those who are in need. After packing meals for an hour, the students and I had the opportunity to sample the taste of the food that was packaged.”

The students also helped fund the food by donating to help cover the cost of the meals they packaged. Explains Strom, “Each meal costs $1.20 to make. We estimate that our group made about 360 meals in the hour of packing. Some of the meals that were packed are going to be shipped to Haiti and Pakistan. Each bag has enough meals for six-to-seven people.”

The group also brought back three boxes to give to the Loaves & Fishes Food Shelf.

Total stats for the work of the 280 volunteers for all of the groups on Sunday resulted in 7,352 bags – or, 44,112 meals. Monetary donations totaled $9,532.

Change has to start somewhere – and that change often begins with the simplicity of a meal. Mobile packaging events are a good idea and can be the impetus of change in the lives of those receiving the meals – as well as the volunteers.

Below are a two photos – courtesy of Nik Strom – of the participating Mountain Lake students, measuring the ingredients, packing and sealing the packages:

 

 

 

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