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What if you found out you could change the world?

You can! It is within your power to give hope to a family that routinely goes without food. You can actually make a difference. You can have a major impact on the lives of starving people. You can actually feed a dying child. You can literally save a life.

Meals from the Heartland is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization that launched its first mass meal packaging effort for impoverished countries in September 2008. The first-time event attracted more than 12,000 volunteers to Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines, Iowa, to package an astounding 4,000,000 meals in just five days.

Working in teams of eight to ten, in two-hour shifts, volunteers package meals to be delivered to starving people around the world. Individuals, businesses, schools, churches and various civic organizations have come together to show the nation and the world what Iowans who truly care can accomplish.

Once packaged, meals are shipped around the globe to the world’s most starving countries. Millions of meals have been shipped Haiti, Jamaica, South Africa, Nigeria, Mexico, and Israel. Support has also been provided to New Mexico and to homeless shelters in Iowa.

Meals from the Heartland would be honored to have you as a partner for this high impact and visible effort of Iowans helping to feed the world and those within the state. With your help, Meals from the Heartland will continue to build more momentum each year.

What difference can one individual possibly make in a problem the size of world hunger? Ask each of the 15,000 Iowans who individually made a huge difference last year.

What if this year, you helped?

What Happened In 2009:

During one of Iowa’s finest moments, more than 15,000 volunteers from across the state gathered to package 4,019,904 meals during Meals from the Heartland 2009. From September 3-7, Iowans of all ages came together at Hy-Vee Hall for the nation’s largest volunteer food packaging event.

The meals packaged during the event have been sent to malnourished children and families living in Haiti, Jamaica, South Africa, Nigeria, Mexico and Israel. Support has also been provided to New Mexico and homeless shelters in Iowa.

On opening night of the event, 800 area high school students from nine schools packaged 200,000 meals during the “Student Challenge.” Volunteers also packaged 185,000 kosher meals sponsored by the Project Elijah Foundation of Des Moines, which have been distributed to families in need in Israel.

More than 6,000 non-perishable food items were donated to the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) food pantry and more than 1,000 school supplies were collected and given to Teacher Tools 4 Tomorrow to support Des Moines metro schools.

Throughout the event, 50 local businesses, 80 churches and a dozen area schools supported Meals from the Heartland by contributing money, donated goods, services or other support, including sponsoring teams of volunteers to help package.

What if this year, you helped?