News Release – St. Paul Presbyterian Hosts Meals from the Heartland Packaging Event

 St. Paul Presbyterian Church invites Johnston residents and surrounding communities to a one-day meal-packaging event for Meals from the Heartland. The church has set a goal of producing 130,000 meals for the world’s hungry at the event.

The packaging will take place at St. Paul Presbyterian on November 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Teams of 8-10 people will register for one-hour shifts. Teams will raise the funds to sponsor their shift, approximately $400 for cost of a team’s meal ingredients. Pre-registration is required.

Donations from individuals, businesses, churches and community organizations are also needed to purchase ingredients, packaging and transportation. Volunteers are needed to staff the event.

To volunteer or donate, visit the website: www.stpaul-johnston.com  and click on the Meals from the Heartland link, or contact Annie Temple at 270-1871 or atemple@q.com.  If you would like to volunteer to help staff the event on Saturday, please contact Annie.

Meals from the Heartland is a non-profit organization composed of volunteers who package meals for delivery to starving people around the world as well as right here in Central Iowa and elsewhere in the United States. Since 2008, Meals from the Heartland has provided more than 28 million meals to the hungry in Iowa and around the world.  Johnston Partnership for a Healthy Community, who runs the local food bank, distributes Meals from the Heartland bags to those in need.

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Registration Open for North Central Iowa Hunger Fight!

Did you miss our Annual Hunger Fight or are you just ready to get back into the ring? Join our North Central Iowa Hunger Fight!

• Date:  November 9-10, 2012
• Volunteer:  You must sign up for  a shift. Register here for meal packaging shift times. To help as a host, register here.
• Location:  United Community School, 1284 U Avenue Boone, IA 50036

 

5.1 Million Meals Packaged!

YOU DID IT! In just four days, you packaged a Meals from the Heartland record-breaking 5,122,008 meals for the world’s hungry! With giving hearts, more than 15,000 volunteers of all ages filled Hy-Vee Hall and worked together to fight hunger in Iowa, our country and all over the world. YOU are a hunger fighter!

It is amazing what people can do when they come together with a common goal. Our food distribution partners will now work hard to distribute your meals to people who desperately need them.

Together, we are moving closer to our goal of making Iowa the Hunger Fighting Capital of the World!

THANK YOU!

Don’t Stop – Keep Fighting

Unfortunately, hunger is a vicious opponent. We can’t stop fighting. Meals from the Heartland hunger fighters have created a demand for year-around packaging opportunities – and we have them! Businesses, churches, schools and organizations of all kinds are encouraged to consider hosting a Mobile Hunger Fight at any time. To find out more about hosting an event, visit our website.

You can also fight hunger any day at any time by donating! We can’t express how thankful we are for our sponsors and the individual donations we’ve received so far. Meals from the Heartland depends on monetary and in-kind donations to package and distribute meals. If you haven’t already, please consider donating. The more funding we have, the more meals we are able to provide!

Keep Up With Us on Facebook!

We love Facebook! Please visit us and “Like” our Facebook page to stay updated on our events and where our meals go. Show your pride for volunteerism by “sharing” our “I Saved Lives” badge on your own Facebook page.

You can also visit the latest news section of our website to keep up-to-date on all things Meals from the Heartland.

 

If you have any questions, please send an email to contact@mealsfromtheheartland.org..

 

Day 1 – 1.3 Million Meals Packaged!

Congratulations! In just our first day of packaging meals, you packaged more than you have ever packaged in a single day – 1,340,064 meals for Iowa’s and the world’s hungry!

The day started off strong with an enthusiastic shift of volunteers. Throughout the day we saw almost 4,000 volunteers come through Hy-Vee Hall, including Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey. Secretary Northey took the time to address the volunteers, offering support and encouragement for the difference they were making in world hunger.

By 5 p.m., Hy-Vee Hall started to feel another round of amazing energy when local high school students began filing through the doors. The DuPont Pioneer Student Challenge welcomed more than 1,100 students to enjoy music and food while learning about world hunger and volunteerism. The students packaged more than 400,000 meals from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Way to go Iowa youth!

Shifts Still Available

We’re seeing a lot of comments on Facebook about how much fun people are having and how great it feels to be saving lives – we agree! So come on back! There are still volunteer shifts available, as well as shifts for Hosts, Dock Workers and Table Supervisors. Have a friend who wishes they would have joined you? Sign up for shifts together and introduce them to a great experience with Meals from the Heartland!

Donations Still Needed

We can’t express how thankful we are for our sponsors and the individual donations we’ve received so far. Meals from the Heartland depends on monetary and in-kind donations to package and distribute meals. If you haven’t already, please consider donating. The more funding we have, the more meals we are able to provide!

Keep Up With Us on Facebook!

We are working hard to keep everyone updated on the event through our Facebook page and Twitter (@MftH). Check out pictures of our volunteers and special guests, and show your pride for volunteerism by “sharing” our “I Saved Lives” badge on your own Facebook page.

If you have any questions, please send an email to contact@mealsfromtheheartland.org or visit our information booth at the Annual Hunger Fight near the exit.

Isaiah 58:10 “Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.”

We can’t wait to see you and thousands of your fellow hunger fighters working together to package 5 million meals in just four days! Here are some helpful tips for your shift.

New entrance! Now that construction is over, we’re moving the entrance back to the North Entrance of Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center (formerly Vets Auditorium). You can park for free in the north parking lot or south of Hy-Vee Hall. Find directions and more information about where to park at the Iowa Events Center website.

Suit up! Wear comfortable clothing and shoes, and please remember to leave personal items at home or in your locked car as there is no storage space for personal items. MftH is not responsible for any lost or stolen items during the event. Remember, you will be required to wear a hair net so plan accordingly!

Donate! If you have not already, please consider making a monetary donation to Meals from the Heartland. You can do this online or by bringing cash, a check or credit/debit card to the Annual Hunger Fight. All of our raw food materials must be purchased in order to be packaged. Each volunteer typically packages $30 worth of raw materials in a one-hour shift.

Move the food! Please consider bringing non-perishable food items and fresh produce donations for one of our local food bank partners, DMARC. They will be collecting donations throughout the event.

Meals Gear! Bring cash, checks or credit/debit cards if you’re interested in purchasing MealsGear! Remember, 100% of the profit for MealsGear goes back to the organization for additional food. You can see all of the MealsGear items in our online store. At the event you can also buy t-shirts made to order!

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much for offering your time to help us package Meals from the Heartland food for the hungry. Without our 15,000 volunteers this week, our 5 million meal goal would not be possible.

If you have any questions before the event, please send an email to contact@mealsfromtheheartland.org. During the event, be sure to visit our information booth for specific questions about Meals from the Heartland.

If you are registered for the Student Challenge – here is a message from our Student Challenge sponsor, DuPont Pioneer. Please note the Student Challenge is at capacity. If you would still like to package meals, please consider signing up for a shift during the remainder of our Annual Hunger Fight. 

Thank you for volunteering to package meals during the Meals from the Heartland Student Challenge. The event is scheduled for Wednesday evening, August 29, 2012, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. at Hy-Vee Hall downtown.  Check in runs from 5:30pm -6:30pm so you can enjoy free food and entertainment.

If you have raised money or donated funds for this important cause, a special thanks for your efforts.  Students who donate or have donated $25 or more will receive a free Beat Hunger t-shirt either at the event (donations by Aug 10) or in early September.

The Student Challenge sponsored by DuPont Pioneer is an educational leadership opportunity organized by Meals from the Heartland to involve Iowa high school students in the fight against hunger. Pioneer is proud to sponsor an event that aligns with our commitment to feeding the hungry and helping meet the world’s increasing demand for food.

Our goal for 2012 is to involve students from central Iowa high schools and colleges to package 450,000 meals. Let’s build off of our momentum from the previous three Student Challenge events!

To help you prepare for the event, please read this IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

• Parking is free. You can park or be dropped off at north of Community Choice Vets Auditorium. After the event, parents can pick you up either on the north side of Vets Auditorium or the east side of Hy-Vee Hall.
• Please enter the northwest lobby of Community Choice Vets Auditorium, where you will be directed by signs to the check-in area. Be sure to stop there to check in and receive your table assignment.
• No outside food (including gum) or beverages are allowed. Pizza and water will be provided for you after you check in (allowed in the seating area).
• Wear comfortable clothing and shoes, as you will be standing during your shift to package food. Please do not wear loose jewelry (necklaces, dangly earrings, etc.). Earrings must be removed or tucked up under your hairnet during packaging. No dangly earrings can be exposed during packaging.
• If you are able and have not already donated, please consider bringing a tax-deductible financial donation with you. Twenty five dollars sponsors 125 meals and you will earn a t-shirt and bandanna from Pioneer in appreciation for your donation.
• Meals from the Heartland merchandise will be available for purchase that evening, if you are interested.
• Free team photos will be taken during the event. Teams will be escorted to the photographer throughout the evening, so watch for a Pioneer floor leader (in a lime green t-shirt) to give you a signal.
• Plan to purchase a $2 Meals from the Heartland bracelet.
• Meals from the Heartland is not responsible for any lost or stolen items during the event. We recommend that you leave any personal items at home.

We hope that you are as excited about this event as we are. The Pioneer team, along with the Meals from the Heartland staff, is looking forward to meeting and working alongside you to make a difference in the lives of others who are in need.

Jeff Austin, Pioneer vice president, Strategy Planning, and the Pioneer team

 

If you are volunteering as a HOST (host, supervisor, dock worker) during the 2012 Meals from the Heartland Annual Hunger Fight, here is all the information you need to know about the training sessions coming up this weekend!

We are excited for this year’s event and our goal of packaging more than 5 million meals for the world’s hungry! Your generous donation of time is critical to the success of the event.

Training for HOST positions will take place on two upcoming dates (we encourage to attend just one session):

Sunday, August 19 at 3:30 p.m.
Lutheran Church of Hope in the Chapel (corner of Ashworth and Jordan Creek Pkwy in WDM)
Monday, August 20 at 6:30 p.m. 
Lutheran Church of Hope in the Chapel (corner of Ashworth and Jordan Creek Pkwy in WDM)

If you are unable to attend one of these training sessions, you will receive instruction when you arrive for your HOST shift. In that case, please remember the following:

• MftH is not responsible for any lost or stolen items during the event. We recommend that you leave any personal/valuable items at home or in your car.
• Wear comfortable shoes and volunteer shirt (handed out at training).
• Supervisors will be provided a trucker cap to wear.
• Dock workers need head covering, hairnet/ball cap/scarf when on the floor.
• Plan to arrive 15 minutes before your shift.
• When you arrive, enter through the North Entrance of Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center (formerly Vets Auditorium).
• Parking is free; you can park north of Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center (formerly Vets Auditorium) or south of Hy-Vee Hall.
• Please consider bringing to the event non-perishable food items and fresh produce donations for our local food bank partner, DMARC. They will be collecting donations throughout the event.
• If you have not already, please also consider making a monetary donation to Meals from the Heartland online. All of our raw food materials must be purchased in order to be packaged!

If you have questions, here is how you can contact us. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Are you ready to package meals with 14,000 of your closest friends? We need you to help us in the fight against hunger! Later this month, thousands will descend on Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines for a four-day meal packaging extravaganza. It’s time for you to register for your meal packaging shift.

The Meals from the Heartland 2012 Annual Hunger Fight is from August 29 through September 1 at Hy-Vee Hall. This year’s goal is to package 5 million meals in just four days! Join us in the fight against hunger!

Don’t forget there are volunteer opportunities beyond meal packaging. Each year, we need hundreds of host volunteers to help us keep the event running smoothly. Host volunteers work as greeters, supply and dock workers and packaging supervisors, among other tasks. Consider being a host volunteer if you want to impact the event in an even bigger way!

 

Join us to cheer on teams competing for the Hy-Vee Cup at the kick-off event for the Meals from the Heartland Annual Hunger Fight. On Tuesday, July 31, more than a dozen local teams will join in a friendly competition at Merle Hay Mall to package meals. Meals packaged at the event, which is sponsored for the third year by Hy-Vee, will be given to the Des Moines Area Religious Council for distribution to hungry families in Central Iowa.

For the first time, the public is invited to watch the event and cheer on their favorite teams.

What: Hy-Vee Cup

When: Tuesday, July 31, 5 p.m.

Where: Merle Hay Mall in the Lower Level Bridge area near Aeropostale and Bath and Body Works. See the map on the Mall’s website for location details.

Dave Bradley Joins Meals from the Heartland as Organization’s First Executive Director

After five years and feeding more than 22 million hungry people around the world, Meals from the Heartland is announcing the next chapter for the organization – the hiring of its first Executive Director: Dave Bradley.

“Thanks to the passion of Iowans for feeding the hungry, Meals from the Heartland has grown rapidly over the last five years.” says Jerry Armstrong, Chair, Meals from the Heartland’s Board of Directors. The organization started by providing one mass packaging event every fall and has now begun offering additional packaging opportunities throughout the year. “Dave’s been a vital part of Meals from the Heartland from its inception, and this was a natural and necessary next step for both him and the organization.”

As Executive Director, Bradley will oversee and help coordinate the many volunteer committees that organize food packaging events happening throughout the year. Meals from the Heartland offers Mobile Hunger Fights at various locations and also holds the Annual Hunger Fight every fall at Hy-Vee Hall. This year, the organization expects more than 15,000 volunteers to package more than 5 million meals at the Annual Hunger Fight from Aug. 29 through Sep. 1, 2012.

Bradley, formerly CEO of First Federal Saving Bank of Iowa, has been a Meals from the Heartland Board Member since the organization’s start in 2008. Prior to that, he and his wife Mary, formed a non-profit named Feeding His Children, which packaged food for the hungry and later merged efforts with Meals from the Heartland. Bradley is from Humboldt County, Iowa and lived in Fort Dodge for 23 years. He and his wife currently live in Urbandale, Iowa.

Recently, our volunteer Board of Directors was recognized by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad with a Governor’s Volunteer Award. While it’s always nice to have a Board as passionate as ours, it’s equally important that we have THOUSANDS of volunteers each year who help us feed MILLIONS of people who are hungry. We are happy to share this honor with all of our volunteers!