FAMILIES FEEDING FAMILIES
350 volunteers pack 120,000 meals as part of United Way project
Posted: Sunday, October 23, 2016 10:15 pm
By Jeff Bahr
Not only were people supporting a good cause Sunday, but they were enjoying themselves at the same time. You’ve never seen 150 people in hairnets having so much fun.
The volunteers packaged 120,000 non-perishable meals at the Fonner Park concourse as part of a Heartland United Way project.
Oftentimes, the work was noisy. People whooped and hollered each time their table completed 36 bags, which filled a box. Loud music helped motivate the workers and add to the party atmosphere.
The volunteers consisted of both groups and individuals. The groups came from churches, businesses, organizations and schools.
Employees from CNH were among those filling bags with fortified macaroni and cheese.
“It’s just a different assembly line,” said Lori Lyons.
It’s “easier than building a combine,” said Ginny Skutnik.
CNH employees are good United Way supporters. “We’re a Pacesetter organization,” Skutnik pointed out.
One of the people helping was Roger Sweley, a CNH employee for 45 years.
Also involved were Kasey Moffett and Maria Portillo, who work on cab assembly at CNH.
The macaroni assembly line is similar to the work they do during the week, Moffett said. Workers have a time frame in which to accomplish their work, they were working in a line and they were “all working together to get the job done,” he said.
To help the cause, Portillo brought along her 17-year-old daughter, Cynthia Contreras.
About 350 people pitched in to fill the bags. Divided into two shifts, the volunteer workforce labored for about five hours, beginning shortly before 1 p.m.
The effort was called the “Families Feeding Families” food packaging event, or the Macaroni Project for short.
It was the second time the Heartland United Way has organized the food packaging event. In 2012, volunteers packed 100,000 bags.
United Way brought the project back because there’s “a tremendous need” for food for children and families in Hall, Hamilton, Howard and Merrick counties, said Karen Rathke of Heartland United Way.
The four counties are home to 4,430 children who are “food insecure,” Rathke said.
The area includes many caring people “who would like to make a difference. So we put the two together,” Rathke said.
The project’s goal was increased from 2012 because there’s a growing need for food, she said. “So the 20,000 meals will certainly help feed all of those children and families,” Rathke said.
The volunteers filled each bag with macaroni noodles, a powdered cheese mix and soy protein. Adding the soy gives the meals a greater nutritional value, Rathke said.
The bags will be delivered to area food pantries and schools. Some of the meals will be sent home as part of backpack programs.
The plastic bags slip easily into the backpack of a child, so they can be sent home discreetly, Rathke said.
Sunday’s workers included a large delegation from Trinity United Methodist Church and First-Faith United Methodist. Seventy-three people from those two churches signed up to help. “Our goal was to get five tables, and we got seven,” said Carla Maurer, who is volunteer in mission coordinator for the churches. She is also director of finance for Heartland United Way.
Trinity member Tom Graves said he and another man were just doing what they were told to do. “For us men, that’s easy to do, because we’re used to that,” he said.
The work was fun, said Darnell Graves. The church members enjoyed visiting while they worked, said Connie Anderson of Trinity.
Also helping were 10 people from Litzenberg Memorial County Hospital in Central City. “It’s a good cause, and I’m a cook at the hospital. So it’s right up my alley,” explained Kelly Danklesen of Clarks. Another group was expected later from Lone Tree Clinic, which is part of Litzenberg.
Also providing assistance were 11 people from St. Paul Public School. The group included eight students who belong to the school’s Family, Career and Community Leaders of America program. Two of the students are involved in Future Business Leaders of America.
“We do community service projects all the time,” said Patti Tibbetts, who is the family and consumer science teacher and FCCLA sponsor at St. Paul School.
The volunteers included representatives of Barr Middle School and Gates and Jefferson elementary schools. Two people working were Engleman Elementary Principal Jane Gloor and her husband, Mark, who is on the board of Heartland United Way. “It’s energy spent for a good cause,” Mark Gloor said.
The Gloors convinced their friends Bill and Jody Gavers to tag along.
Lacey Rath brought her 12-year-son, Caiden, to help. She wanted her son to see the community come together. It was also good for the Westridge Middle School student to see that not everybody gets homecooked meals every night, and is not blessed with new shoes and new iPods all the time, she said.
A group from First National Bank arrived early to help, Rathke said. The first shift of the day included eight people from a Bible study group at Third City Christian Church.
Small children were also helping. Kelly Wilson brought her 6-year-old son, Cove. Mary Berlie, who is on the Heartland United Way board of directors, brought her 3-year-old daughter, Piper.
“It’s a good opportunity to teach them how to give back, even at a young age,” Berlie said. She convinced 10 people to come pitch in, including Wilson and another friend, her sister and five nieces and nephews.
Project sponsors included the Wolbach Foundation and Cargill. The project was also done with contributions to Heartland United Way.