VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — With just 90 minutes on the clock, residents and staff members at Westminster Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay in Virginia Beach hope to put a dent in global hunger.
“So many people here have an understanding that we are a part of a global community with people that we’ve never met,” said Rev. Jenny Spivey, the senior chaplain of Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay.
In partnership with Rise Against Hunger, more than 60 volunteers assembled meal kits to pack 10,000 meals for several countries around the world. It’s an opportunity these volunteers say they look forward to each year.
“To be able to give back is part of our nature,” said volunteer Margaret Webster.
This marks the fourth occasion in recent years that Westminster Canterbury has hosted such an event.
"It's such a great cause and we get to have a ball doing it," Dick Binford said. “I wish we could do more, but what we can do is worthwhile.”
Volunteers packed a scoop of soy, a vitamin packet, rehydrated vegetables, and rice inside this tiny bag. Then, it gets weighed on a scale.
“So, it’s the appropriate amount of six servings for the school children’s lunch for the school year,” said Woody Kennon, the event manager for Rise Against Hunger.
Once sealed, it’ll go inside a box. Kennon said one box equals a school child’s lunch for an entire year.
“And it’s about 216 meals in one little box,” he said. "They can go to Uganda, Haiti. It can go to Malaysia, Singapore, Ukraine. Just any country that's...struggling with food."
Volunteers worked quickly but they’re reminded their service is no small feat.
“That’s an important thing to be able to know that our efforts, even for a short amount of time can have such an impact beyond our community,” Rev. Spivey said.
The items packed will get shipped in a couple of months but volunteers don't know where there food is going just yet.
"Last year, it went to Madagascar," Webster said. "So, we'll see where it goes this year."