Courtesy of One Million meals
In the city of St. Louis, about 27 percent of people live below the poverty line, impoverished and struggling to make ends meet, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Beraka Ministries and Meals for a Million are trying to alleviate this reality by serving dried non-perishable meals to starving people as part of an international relief effort that will prepare 1 million meals.
"Beraka Ministries and Meals for a million are committed to helping low-income families in the St. Louis area and beyond," Beraka Ministries president Sam Rowley said in a release. "Extending our relationship means more opportunities to lend a helping hand through volunteer efforts in the community. Giving back to the people of St. Louis both enriches the lives of those in such need and those who volunteer, and we look forward to the opportunity to serve and make a difference."
The goal is to pack 1 million meals and distribute them to qualified organizations, mostly local food banks. At the Meals for a Million event, more than 5,000 90-minute slots are filled with volunteers who will work an assembly line, combining ingredients and vitamins to make 1 million meals with two nutritional formulas. These meals will be sealed to provide a complete meal for six children (or four adults).
"The Meals for a Million event brings people from all areas together, under one roof, for one weekend, to help make a local dent in hunger," Rowley said.
The organization will be collecting canned goods and nonperishable items for local food banks as part of the project.
The event will be held at The Family Arena in St. Charles on August 26 and 27. On Saturday, the hours are 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sunday hours are 9 a.m.–3 p.m. More information can be found at Meals for a Million's website.
