I credit my mother for teaching me the importance of serving others. For years as a child, she carted my brother and me around town as volunteers for Meals on Wheels. Through this experience, I was forced to overcome my fear of ringing the doorbell at a stranger’s house in a strange neighborhood where I waited patiently to hand them a hot meal.
I have the same desire to teach my children about serving others, yet the opportunities for family service are limited. My children are not yet old enough to deliver meals for Meals on Wheels, so I have had to search high and low for service opportunities that are inclusive and safe for children. We have tried a variety of service opportunities, but we feel that we hit the jackpot when we discovered The Hunger Challenge.
The Hunger Challenge implements a “factory-line” process to put together meals in a bag that are shipped to countries that lack sufficient food around the world. Children as young as 3 are able to participate! Our family signed up last year and invited a family in our neighborhood who also has a heart to serve. Together we had a brief training where we learned the easy food packing process, as well as which countries would receive our food. Then, we donned our hairnets and got to work! Each time our table filled a box with complete meals, we sent a child to the “gong” where they got to hit it as many times as they wanted to celebrate that we had filled another box! There was music playing and we laughed at ourselves and each other as we tried to beat all the other tables and make the most meals.
Not only was the experience fun and fulfilling, it brought up questions about issues we want our children to be aware of as they grow and learn about the world. Our kids asked questions about why people don’t have enough food, and where those countries are located. I think we all were a bit more thankful for our food when we sat down for dinner that night.
I am so thankful each member of our family got to have some fun, learn about issues around the world, and help those in need.
About The Hunger Challenge
Saturday, September 7 at Eastminster Church in the Gym (1958 N. Webb Rd.)
Shift 1: 9 – 11 a.m.
Shift 2: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Register at wichitahungerchallenge.com
The Hunger Challenge is a food packing event that offers a tangible way to make a difference in world hunger. Often the global hunger crisis feels so big we aren’t sure what we can do, but in just two hours you can help pack meals for those facing starvation. Each 33-pound box contains 216 meals, and our goal is to complete at least 100,000 meals. We’ll work in assembly lines to measure food ingredients, funnel them into bags and weigh, seal and box the meals, and kids ages 3 and up can help. Each meal is full of necessary nutrients and includes rice, soy, vegetables and vitamins. This year the food will be sent to the South Sudan, where at least 40% of the country faces famine, and the health conditions are considered some of the worst on the planet.
Kristen Spear is a Wichita mom of two kids ages 4 and 7. She has a background in corporate Human Resources and now owns her own HR consulting business.
She works part-time which gives her time for family, adventure, reading and friends.
