Haiti Relief Pours In

Meals from the Heartland has had the honor, over the last couple years, to have truly humbling support form our community as well as the local and national media.  As we come closer to the Help for Haiti packaging event on February 22nd, we’re seeing interest and commitments growing at an outstanding pace.

In just 30 days we have surpassed our goal of raising funding to package 300,000 meals for those suffering from the Haiti earthquakes to six times that.  YES! Thanks to our volunteers and Meals from the Heartland, the Help for Haiti event will be able to package 1.9 million meals!

Here is some of the media coverage from the local CBS affiliate, KCCI, that talks about Help for Haiti and the strides we have made in accomplishing this feat.

While Meals from the Heartland has worked hard in getting the word out, we do want to thank those that have helped with personal efforts.  We have seen everything from schools and social clubs to churches as well as our voice carried through social media to get the masses educated and motivated.  We can’t thank you enough.

Remember, the event is less than a week away and we could still use donations and volunteers.  To donate, please click here and submit your information.  If you would like to set up a team to package next week, please click here.

Thank you so much for your effort and your generosity.

God Bless!
The Meals from the Heartland Team

Around The Globe

Haiti is the poorest nation in the western hemisphere. It is a country of 9 million people that geographically is slightly smaller than the state of Maryland. Please pray, give and serve as Meals from the Heartland is turning all available resources to helping the people of Haiti.

What if you found out you can change the world?

All you have to do is care enough to want to do what you can to share Iowa’s resources with those who face the very real prospect of starvation every day. Iowans have demonstrated over and over again how blessed we are to be living in the “Breadbasket of America” and how willing we are to share our bounty with those in need. Now, a grass-roots movement called “Meals from the Heartland” has been formed to actively organize relief efforts aimed at directly addressing the issue of world hunger. The leaders and volunteers of this effort are united by the single-minded conviction that Iowans simply can’t continue to be blessed with so much abundance, and at the same time, turn their backs on those in need.

Last year, Iowans from all walks of life came together in love to do what they could to alleviate the devastating impact of world hunger. Working in teams of eight to ten, in two-hour shifts, during the week-long event in September, 12,000 volunteers packaged more than 4,000,000 meals to be delivered to starving people around the world. Individuals, businesses, schools, churches, and various civic organizations rallied behind the effort and showed the nation and the world what Iowans who truly care can accomplish.

What if this year, you helped?

Drake University athletes package the first of 3 million meals.

DES MOINES, Ia.—August 26, 2008.

The interior of Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines holds 1-1/2 football fields. September 1-9 this will be the site of Meals from the Heartland: a massive food drive to restock Iowa food banks and a huge assembly line to package 3 million meals for the world’s hungry.

Last week, members of the Drake University football, men’s and women’s soccer, and volleyball teams raced to see who

could package the most meals to kick off Meals from the Heartland. The Drake Athletic Office staff was also part of the fun “throwdown” competition. The Freshmen Men’s Soccer Team packaged the most meals and walked away with a first-place trophy, and a new sense of the impact Iowans can make to fight world hunger.

Drake University teams packaged a total of 19, 440 meals. Athletic Director Sandy Hatfield Clubb was moved by the experience. “It became very powerful when I looked at a bag of food I just sealed and realized that bag will feed a family of six.” She added, “I am bringing my family to Hy-Vee Hall in September to package more meals.”

Volunteers are needed to package the meals at Meals from the Heartland. All ages (including school age children) are encouraged to participate.

Businesses, schools and volunteer groups can make Meals from the Heartland a group activity by signing up teams to assemble the meal packets.

Online donations to Meals from the Heartland are now being accepted. All donations will provide additional ingredients and packaging supplies. Every 25-cent donation will provide the means to package one more meal for someone who is hungry.

Iowans Helping Iowans…
Event volunteers are also encouraged to bring non-perishable food items or school supplies for our fellow Iowans in need.

Embrace Iowa and the Food Bank of Iowa have created lists of school supplies and food that are needed most. The lists can be found on the Iowans Helping Iowans page.

Click here to volunteer at the event, or to make a donation, please visit our donation page.

Meals from the Heartland: Why are we doing this?

WEST DES MOINES, Ia.— August 6, 2008.

The interior of Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines holds 1-1/2 football fields. In September this will be the site of Meals from the Heartland: a massive food drive to restock Iowa food banks and a huge assembly line to package 3 million meals for the world’s hungry.

So why put the effort into such a huge project to benefit people you will probably never meet? Ask any Meals from the

Heartland organizer and they will tell you the answer is simple: because there are hungry people in our world.

Jane Patton regularly volunteers to package food for Kids Against Hunger. “As a parent…you don’t realize what it would be like to not be able to feed your children.” Speaking to the need for food in other countries, she adds, “They need food, they deserve food.”

Thousands more volunteers are needed to package the meals at Meals from the Heartland. All ages (including school-age children) are encouraged to participate. Patton’s 6 year-old volunteers, along with her parents and 93 year-old grandmother. “There aren’t too many opportunities where you can serve as an entire family,” she says.

Corporations, schools and volunteer groups can make Meals from the Heartland a group activity by signing up teams to assemble the meal packets. Volunteers planning to spend the night in Des Moines may call Country Inn & Suites (515-457-3606), Embassy Suites Des Moines on the River (515-244-1700), Renaissance Savery Hotel (800-514-4706) Quality Inn & Suites – Events Center (515-282-5251) for a Meals from the Heartland group discount.

Event volunteers are also encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to be distributed to  Iowa food banks for our fellow Iowans in need.

Meals from the Heartland will demonstrate that Iowans are better together. Working side by side, our state can make a global impact. Patton understands the power of Iowans coming together for a common goal. “If everybody would just step into the game, that’s what it will take.”

MealsFromTheHeartland.org
Updated with New Features
•    Facts about world hunger.
•    Video featuring Max Holmes, founder of Kids Against Hunger Des Moines.
•    Directions and parking information for Hy-Vee Hall.
•    Downloadable Meals from the Heartland brochure.
•    List of businesses supporting Meals from the Heartland.

Click here to volunteer at the event, or to make a donation, please visit our donation page.

Meals from the Heartland: Feeding Iowa…Feeding the World.

WEST DES MOINES, Ia.— July 30, 2008.

Last night plans were announced for a large-scale event that will bring Iowans together to fight hunger.

Meals from the Heartland will take place September 1-9 at Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines, Iowa. The 9-day event will have two components: a massive food drive to restock Iowa food pantries and a huge assembly line to package 3 million meals for the world’s hungry.

From Ackley to Zwingle, Iowans will come together in early September to care for our neighbors in need and reach out to hungry people around the world.

The easily  prepared, readily transportable meals will be packaged by teams of eight to ten people in two-hour shifts. The

meals are formulated to provide a rich source of easily digestible  nutrients essential for survival. These life-sustaining packages will be delivered to starving and malnourished children in Belize, El Salvador, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica and Nicaragua.

12,000 volunteers are needed to accomplish the goal of three million meals packaged in one week. All ages (including school-age children) are encouraged to participate. Packaging the meals is as easy as scoop, pour and repeat!

Corporations, schools and volunteer groups can make Meals from the Heartland a group activity by signing up teams of 10 volunteers to assemble the meal packets.

Event volunteers are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to be distributed to The Iowa Food Bank for our fellow Iowans in need.

Meals from the Heartland will demonstrate that Iowans are better together. Working side by side, our state can make a global impact.

Click here to volunteer at the event, or to make a donation, please visit our donation page.