Hundreds of volunteers gathered at Grace Bible Church to make a difference for children and families facing food insecurity across the world.
Grace Bible Church partnered with the organization Feed My Starving Children to pack meals for families. Organizers' goal was to make enough meals to feed 125,000 people.
David Wells, a Grace Bible Church worship pastor, said volunteers started making meals yesterday, and they have surpassed over 100,000 meals to ship to any of the 70 countries Feed My Starving Children serves.
Wells says the experience has opened his eyes, as well as the volunteers', on how real food insecurity is.
"I love how the 600 people that are here serving are more aware of an issue," Wells said. "We all know that there is starvation around the world, but now we see it, we know it. And every time I do this, I change, and I am more aware of needs around the world and more sensitive to needs, even in Columbia."Â
Elizabeth Lord, the traveling program manager for Feed My Starving Children, said the meals provide essential vitamins and minerals to combat malnutrition and starvation.
The meals are bagged formula solutions made by food science and nutrition professionals. The formula is primarily composed of rice and the added nutrient formula.
Wells said physically being able to make a difference is reward enough.Â
"It's one thing to give money, which is great as well, but when you actually, physically do something and you realize that you're packaging this food that will be opened up by a family in Haiti ... (and) it will actually help save a life ... it's incredibly awarding," Wells said.
Organizations like Grace Bible Church that wish to host a food-packing event must submit a fundraising plan to Feed My Starving Children, according to a guide on the organization's website. Feed My Starving Children contracts with trucking companies to deliver supplies to the hosting organization before the event.
