Susan Kelly, Nederland. Over 800 million people in the world cannot get the food they need to live a healthy life.  That is why the United Nations has a goal to end hunger by 2030.  United States astronaut Buzz Aldrin posed this challenge “If we can conquer space, we can conquer childhood hunger.” For the fifth year in a row, Nederland community members accepted that challenge as they joined forces with Rise Against Hunger, an international hunger relief organization that distributes food and aid to the most vulnerable populations in our world today. On November 6, more than sixty individuals of all ages gathered at Nederland’s Teen Center and packaged 10,000 high protein, vitamin-packed meals which were sent to deserving communities around the world. 

Pastor Hansen Wendlandt, of the Nederland Community Presbyterian Church, first learned about Rise Against Hunger in Charlotte, NC, when this non-profit organization occupied a small office in his church. He learned that for only 39 cents, nutritious meals can be sent to schools in impoverished communities around the world, increasing school enrollment, reducing absenteeism, and improving learning outcomes.

With funding from the local Lion’s Club, money raised by the church’s wreath sales, donations from Tebo Properties, and space at the Teen Center, this year’s Rise Against Hunger event was a huge success.  “The boundaries between this church (Nederland Community Presbyterian Church) and this community are more fluid than most religious organizations,” said Pastor Wendlandt.  Conversation, laughter, and music filled the room as meals were packaged assembly-line style. After each 1000 meals were packaged, a gong sounded, interrupting the fun-filled event and reminding everyone how one little town can come together can make a big difference.

(Originally published in the November 15, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)