Packaging Center Hunger Fight

Packaging Center Hunger Fight

What if…you and your co-workers, friends, classmates, church group or any gathering of concerned individuals wanted to package meals for the hungry?

In addition to our Annual Hunger Fight and Mobile Hunger Fight packaging opportunities, we provide our Packaging Center for on-site packaging throughout the year! The Packaging Center provides a no-hassle opportunity for mid to large groups to gather for a packaging event. We organize the materials, ingredients and get the food where it needs to go!

Our Packaging Center and warehouse is located just south on Grand Avenue and Railroad in West Des Moines at:

Wolf Construction
2202 Wolf Way
West Des Moines, IA.
(MAP)

Following are some of the main areas of support needed for you to sponsor a Packaging Center Hunger Fight:

1. Volunteers to package the food (10 volunteers per packaging line recommended, who will average 2,000 meals or more per hour… but can have 8 or so per line). A minimum of 30 people are requested to schedule and sponsor an event at the Packaging Center. Due to space limitations, a maximum of 80- 100 volunteers per shift are allowed.
2. Funding to cover the cost of / sponsor the number of meals you would like to package (20 cents per meal currently covers all costs)
3. Volunteers to help sweep floors, take out trash and wipe clean packaging equipment and containers (no washing required) at the end of the Hunger Fight event.

Meals from the Heartland provides:

1. Food ingredients (rice, soy, dried vegetables and vitamins) and packaging materials / supplies (bags, boxes & tape)
2. Packaging line equipment (sealers, scales, funnels, etc.)
3. Aprons, hairnets, hand sanitizer and gloves
4. Education, training and support (we would help you with planning in advance, be present during the event to help with set-up , provide orientation, etc.)
5. Fundraising suggestions and support if needed
6. Transportation of food that is donated to mission partners overseas or domestically

Meal Costs: Sponsorship is 20 cents per meal to cover the cost of food ingredients, packaging materials and transportation to mission partners who distribute the food domestically or overseas. Previous costs were 15 cents, but due to rice, soy and other cost increases in the past year, MftH has had to increase the cost to sponsor a meal. A bag contains 6 meals and at 20 cents per meal the cost is $1.20 cents per bag, or $43.20 per box (with 36 bags and 216 meals in each box).

If you’re interested in sponsoring a Mobile Hunger Fight, please send us an email at contact@mealsfromtheheartland.org. Someone will respond within 48 hours!