By John Rohlf, The Message assistant editor
A group of over 200 volunteers helped pack more than 51,000 meals during the Evansville Catholic Community Food Packing Event.
The Food Packing Event was held Feb. 22 at Good Shepherd Parish in Evansville. The primary sponsors were the Good Shepherd Knights of Columbus and Columbiettes. To help fight the scourge of hunger in developing countries, they partnered with Cross Catholic Outreach to pack nourishing meals. Other Knights councils helped in meeting the donation goal.
“Long story short, I heard about Cross Catholic Outreach and the work they do on a Dynamic Catholic pilgrimage a couple of years ago … Early last spring, in prayer, I asked God what he wanted me to do,” Dana Blanke said. “He gave me several signs that we need to have a food packing event.”
Blanke said this was the first local Cross Catholic Food packing event she was aware of. She said there was one in Owensboro, Kentucky, last fall but she does not believe Evansville ever hosted one. After seeing the ads for this event, St. Joseph Parish in Jasper is planning to have a food packing event in July of this year, she said.
Prior to the event, they reached their goal of 200 volunteers, with volunteers spanning from 2 years old to 88 years old. They packed 45,000 meals for families in need overseas and 5,000 meals to help locally with food insecurities in Evansville.
“We are working with the smaller food pantries to distribute those meals, including Sts. Mary and John, Nativity and St. Vincent de Paul,” Blanke said.
The nutrient-rich meals designed by a nutritionist will feed children and families in a poverty-stricken country for just 33 cents a meal. Blanke said the meals will serve families in Haiti, Guatemala and Africa.
According to the Cross Catholic Outreach website, “Worldwide, One Child Dies From Starvation Every Five Seconds: Together, we can feed the hungry and share Christ’s hope. Cross Catholic Outreach food packing events unite U.S. Catholics for an inspiring Work of Mercy — preparing Vitafood meal packets for hungry children and families in developing countries. With your help, we can unite U.S. Catholic families in faith while we provide lifesaving meals for impoverished families abroad.”