A stream of several dozen volunteers including the Centrifuge team flowed into an unassuming office park in Aurora, Illinois, on March 29 to make an impact on the world by packing meals at Feed My Starving Children (FMSC). This event was a high-energy, rollicking good time that serves the global community. All participating 'Fugers enjoyed donating their time and would likely return.
After a welcome from the staff and a video showing how nutritious meals helped a family of four young brothers go from undernourished to thriving, the Centrifuge team donned hairnets and went to work. Scoopers added vitamins, dried vegetables, soy protein, and fortified rice to each meal bag, which was carefully weighed and passed on for sealing.
A competitive bunch by nature, we celebrated each time we vacuum-sealed a full box of 36 meals. We were quite proud of our clean table at the end of the night, indicating we hadn't spilled much of the valuable ingredients.
The lively playlist of Motown and dance hits kept everyone in the place dancing while packing. The numbers for the evening were impressive: 35,640 meals packed, which filled 165 boxes and will feed 98 children for a full year. In addition to helping prepare and pack meals valued at $10,335.60, Centrifuge made a cash donation to continue the good work of FMSC.
Worldwide, hunger causes nearly half of all deaths in children under 5 years old. FMSC believes that hope begins with food. The organization follows a simple process for changing children's lives in 27 countries. Financial donations fund the meal ingredients. Volunteers hand pack the meals. Those meals are donated to FMSC food partners around the world, where children are fed.
What a meaningful way to spend time together and spread hope in the world!