WASHINGTON — Hundreds of local people gathered Saturday to feed those in need. The day-long meal packing effort to help end hunger was the third event in a year held at the Redeemer Lutheran Church in McLean, Va.
Faith-based organizations, youth groups and schools brought 750 volunteers together to pack 200,000 meals for Stop Hunger Now, an international hunger relief organization.
One of the volunteers, 16-year-old Sade Bowers, says she was humbled by the experience.
“I basically want to cry,” she says. “It’s just so important to be helping other people that I just really feel honored to be able to do this.”
McLean resident Bob Hahne says he and his wife organized the first meal packing because they felt the need to help others.
“Twenty-five thousand people die each day from hunger or hunger-related diseases,” he says.
Hahne recently lost his wife, but he is carrying on her dream of packing 1 million meals. With Saturday’s effort, that brings the number to a total of 450,000 meals.
He’s hoping to pack another 250,000 meals next year and 350,000 meals the following year. He says the biggest challeng is raising the $50,000 needed to purchase the rice, soy and dehydrated vegetables that make up the meal.
