Gathering together to feed communities: Residents of all ages helped packaged 10,000 meals for Rise Against Hunger at last year’s event in Nederland.[/caption]

Dear Editor,

Residents of all ages throughout the Peak to Peak region are invited to join the fun as we “Rise Against Hunger.” Volunteers will meet at TEENS, Inc., 151 East Street in Nederland on Thursday, October 3 from 6 - 8 p.m. to package 10,000 meals. The meals will be provided to the international organization Rise Against Hunger which will distribute them internationally to alleviate hunger.

The meal packaging is organized along an assembly line format, with volunteers scooping the food, weighing it, placing it in sanitary plastic bags and packing the meals in boxes for shipping. Individuals can join the effort, along with families, and teams from businesses, civic and religious organizations. If a volunteer needs to be seated while packaging the food, this can be easily accommodated. Students will be provided a letter documenting their community service.

Rise Against Hunger is an international organization that has been working to end world hunger since 1998. The organization has facilitated the volunteer packaging of more than 600 million meals distributed to the hungry in countries around the world.

Nederland Community Presbyterian Church is organizing the event for the ninth year. To fund the project, the church will sell fresh evergreen Christmas wreaths for $35 each from October 3 – November 1 with delivery beginning Nov. 21. Funding has also been received through grants from the Lions Club of Nederland and Peak to Peak Rotary. Additional sponsorships by local businesses will be welcomed and recognized at the event.

“We are inviting everyone of all ages to join in this community effort to help alleviate hunger,” said Nederland Community Presbyterian Church Mission Elder Paula Gipp, who is leading the project. “We are grateful to the Lions Club of Nederland and Peak to Peak Rotary for their support and encourage others to provide financial support for this program so that we can continue it into the future.”

To register yourself or a team, or to become a sponsor, please contact Paula Gipp via email at gipp.paula@gmail.com or at 303-328-5863. There is no fee to participate.

Margie Yansura

Nederland