When it comes to volunteering and helping out those in need, Verrado residents have shown they like to roll up their sleeves and get involved.  Every spring, they come together and partner with the organization Feed My Starving Children to make a huge impact for malnourished children all over the world.

The 6^th Annual Verrado Feed My Starving Children MobilePack Event will be held at Verrado High School on April 30 and May 1.  This event is coordinated in partnership with the community of Verrado and Summit Community Church (which holds services at Verrado High School).

Verrado started with packing an impressive 100,000 meals in 2011, and has continued to raise that goal and achieve it every year since.  Last year, more than 272,000 meals were packed, utilizing more than 1,200 local volunteers.  Not only are they raising the bar again, but they’re about to have a monumental event.  With a goal of 300,000 meals in 2016, more than 1,500 volunteers will pack the one millionth meal in Verrado for Feed My Starving Children this year.

At just 22 cents a meal, every dollar raised makes a major difference for the fundraising and meal goals. To raise funds, residents hold a silent auction at their Founders Day Picnic, enjoy progressive fundraising dinner parties, conduct bake sales, and much more.  The community is now half way to raising the $66,000 needed to pay for the ingredients for the 300,000 meals they are determined to pack this year.

Scientifically formulated for malnourished children, these meals will be shipped to distribution partners around the world and be served by more volunteers and missionaries.  Last year the Verrado packed meals were delivered to the Philippines.

“Volunteers work in teams or individually for just two hours each shift to scoop rice, soy, vitamins and dehydrated vegetables portioned into bags called MannaPacks,”  Event Coordinator and Verrado resident Kimberly Banach explains.  “We turn up the music and everyone has a lot of fun bonding with one other, competing with other teams, and making a huge difference in a short amount of time.  Many volunteers end their shift having too much fun to leave.  We always tell them, of course you can stay!”

Here’s how to get involved:

Join us on April 30 or May 1

You can sign up with a team of your choice, or come by yourself and meet some new friends.  There is a job for everyone of any skill or ability level ages 5 and up.  Minors do require an adult chaperon.

America’s premier independent charity evaluator, Charity Navigator, has awarded Feed My Starving Children the highest 4-star rating for the eleventh straight year.  Since the organization uses so many volunteers to market the program and produce the meals, an impressive 92 percent of total monetary donations goes directly toward the food program.  Make a donation here or sign up at this link to come out and help pack the meals right here in Verrado!