Hopewell helps feed the hungry

Isabella Perry was one of the many runners carrying filled meal packages to be boxed for shipment to hungry people around the world. The “Rise Against Hunger” event was held at Robert J. Burch Elementary school on Saturday, September 23. There were 137 volunteers of all ages and walks of life participating in the event. Photo/Submitted.

Hopewell United Methodist Church, in Tyrone, hosted a meal packing event on Saturday, September 23, and packed 17,120 meals for “Rise Against Hunger”. This year’s event was held at Robert J. Burch Elementary, and 137 volunteers participated. Volunteers came from all over the area with the majority coming from Hopewell UMC and Burch Elementary, but there was also a large group of Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts and another group from Bethany UMC. This was the seventh year Hopewell has hosted this event and they have packed a total of 94,448 meals during that time.

The meals consist of dehydrated vegetables, rice, seasonings, and vitamins. Volunteers filled, weighed, and sealed the ingredients in poly bags that will be shipped to hungry people around the world. The “Rise Against Hunger” organization is also helping victims of hurricane Harvey and Irma with their meal needs during this devastating time in their lives.

Hopewell will now start raising funds for the 2018 event. For more information, or to volunteer for the next event, contact Hopewell UMC at 770-306-7537. If you would like to help, but can’t participate, monetary donations are always welcome. Make checks payable to Hopewell UMC, mark the check for Rise Against Hunger (RAH), and send it to 351 Jenkins Road, Tyrone, GA 30290.