15TH ANNUAL HUNGER FIGHT RETURNS TO HY-VEE HALL

Meals from the Heartland is excited to announce details about the upcoming 15th Annual Hunger Fight, which will return to Hy-Vee Hall
after a two-year hiatus. The event runs from August 31 to September 3 and volunteer registration is open now.

This annual event had been held in downtown Des Moines every year since 2008 until the COVID-19 Pandemic hit in 2020. Meals from the Heartland made adjustments to continue to feed the starving in the midst of the pandemic by holding the 2020 and 2021 Annual Hunger Fight at its West Des Moines Packaging Center, incorporating a new bulk-packaging procedure that enabled fewer volunteers to package more meals!

“We are honored to be working alongside Hy-Vee, many sponsors, volunteers and staff to welcome large crowds of volunteers back to Hy-Vee Hall now that COVID-19 restrictions have lessened,” said Meals from the Heartland Executive Director Greg DeHaai. “Every year during one long weekend in late August/early September, we mobilize approximately 10,000 volunteers at Hy-Vee Hall to package more than 4 million meals during our Annual Hunger Fight. COVID-19 changed the way this event looked for two years, but we were still able to package over 9 million meals to distribute to those in even greater need during the pandemic.”

“We’re looking forward to being back downtown and meeting our goal to package four million meals in four days. The number of children we help feed within school feeding initiatives around the globe continues to grow, and we are committed to doing our part to feed the starving and this event is just one way we do just that.”

During the 14 previous Annual Hunger Fights, volunteers have packaged a total of 61 million meals. Meals from the Heartland is closing in on 200 million total meals packaged since its inception in 2008, and anticipates surpassing that milestone during the Annual Hunger Fight.

Meals from the Heartland and Hy-Vee, along with our Presenting Sponsors, Wells Fargo, Corteva and John Deere Financial, announce the 15th Annual Hunger Fight in Des Moines. Meals packaged during this four-day event will be sent to:

• Burkina Faso
• El Salvador
• Guatemala
• Haiti
• Honduras
• Nicaragua
• Philippines
• Togo

Join us August 31 – September 3 at Hy-Vee Hall, 833 5th Avenue, Des Moines. Many 2-hour shifts are available. Sign up individually or with your business, church or civic group. Register here.