Thanksgiving is right around the corner. While we are planning our menus and decorating our tables, it’s easy to forget that not everyone will be preparing a feast this Holiday season. There are millions of people who go without food every single day. Not only in our country, but in countries around the world.
We heard that there was a chance to serve with the people from Feed My Starving Children to do something about the hunger crisis in the world. We were excited to do more than just give money (which is needed and honorable, and needed, SO NEEDED!) but sometimes the best way to feel involved with the solution is by doing something with your hands! We were mostly excited that this volunteer opportunity was kid friendly. It’s not often that you can find a place for a kid to feel important and needed in a volunteer capacity. We signed up, we attended, we cried, we packed enough food to feed 89 kids for one year! In a world full of spoiled, entitled kids (including my own) it was so good to see my kids react so strongly to poverty. What a great day it was!
Here are some pictures of our family serving together that day…
This first picture was displayed as we walked in. The picture is of a baby boy before and after receiving food from Feed My Starving Children.
Immediately, we were all ready to help. That picture speaks a thousand words to your heart, doesn’t it?
The only restrictions on getting your kids involved is that they must be at least 5 years old to help. There is a job for everyone! Our youngest is 7 and even he had plenty of work to do!
The food packs are called Manna Packs. They are full of vitamins and nutrients formulated specifically for people suffering from malnutrition.
I encourage you today to think about donating to this wonderful organization. 92% of the total donations goes directly to the food program. 7% goes to fundraising, administration, and overhead combined. You can be sure that your donation is making a direct impact. You can also check out their website to find a location in your area where food is being packed.
We were excited and honored to be a part of Vermont’s first mobile pack event. We look forward to being more involved in the future. The events are held all over the country. A session is only 2-3 hours long. When we were finished with our turn, hundreds more volunteers filed in behind us, all weekend long! I don’t know the final numbers, but you can imagine how much food was packed in just a short amount of time!
There is so much to be grateful for as we live in a land of plenty. I hope you and your family will take a moment to think about those not so fortunate.
There are many ways you and your family can do something about the hungry people of Vermont (or your own state!). Please check with local food shelves and soup kitchens about what you can do locally. I hear that Mauranda will be sharing about a wonderful local opportunity soon, so stay tuned for more information on that!
Pleas share some of your favorite ways to get your kids involved in volunteering!
We participated in this great event on Saturday morning and we also included our whole family, my youngest is 5 and was so eager to help.. It was a great time had by all and a great organization as well.. I look forward to next years event and encourage everyone to get involved.
Thanks Tasha! Always looking for something to do with the family in a “give back” kind of way. Hard to believe that we can become so blind to the poverty crisis all over the world in our land of plenty.
It sounds like a great organization, thanks for sharing. I think of mothers just like us that don’t have enough food for their children and I can’t imagine many worse things.
Loved reading this Tasha! Now I just need to find something that our family can do together this holiday season that would be toddler friendly 🙂