Service Above Self.

Rotarians Against Hunger

Area 1 Supports “Rotarians Against Hunger”

120 volunteers from the six Rotary Clubs in Area 1 met at the Leslie Fox Keyser Elementary School in Front Royal on Saturday morning, April 6^th to package meals for Rotarians Against Hunger supporting the "Stop Hunger Now" program.  The Rotary Clubs of Clarke County, Winchester’s Latest, Winchester, Frederick County, Front Royal, and Linden were joined by Interact students from Clarke County HS, Millbrook HS, Sherando HS, Warren County HS, Handley HS, Skyline HS and Riverfront Christian.  Several students from the Randolph Macon Academy’s Middle School also packaged meals.

It only took the 120 volunteers a little over two hours to package 37,848 meals.  The meals from this “packaging party” are being sent to the Ivory Coast of Africa in early April to provide meals for children, which for many, will be the only meal they will receive that day. 

“Stop Hunger Now” is an international hunger relief organization that coordinates the distribution of food and other life-saving aid around the world. The organization is driven by a vision to end world hunger in our lifetime and a mission to provide food and life-saving aid to the world’s most destitute and hungry in the most sustainable, efficient and effective manner.  This organization, based in North Carolina, is supported by many Rotary Clubs around the south.  In North Carolina, most clubs support the charity through annual packaging events.

The joint Area 1 Service Project was coordinated by Clarke County Club President, Dale Coumes.  President Dale said, "This is one of the first times we've come together as a team to do a project, and it is great understanding, that when you come together, you accomplish a lot."

Each Rotary Club began raising funds for the project three months ago.  In the beginning, most clubs just “passed the hat” to raise funds, but the fund raising soon led to competition between the clubs to see which club could raise the most funds.  The competition was further encouraged when a member of the Clark County Club offered to match a portion of the contributions.  The total amount raised by the six Rotary Clubs, Interact Clubs and a District Grant was $9,102.16 which purchased over 37,848 meals.

The RMA Middle School students engaged in a “Penny War” to have fun and raise money for the fight against hunger.  In the “Penny War”, the girls squared off against the boys.  Each penny that went into each team’s jar was a “positive” and each coin NOT a penny was a “negative” and counted against them.  This war netted $850 toward the larger war against hunger.  The girls, who make up nearly 30% of the Middle School population, won hands down.  In January, the students donated $110 toward this project.

The “Stop Hunger Now” Virginia Program Coordinator, Troy Henson stated, "I want to thank all of the volunteers that really helped us today. Without their support we would never be able to package the meals we package."

For more information, call June Rinehart, Linden Rotary (540-636-9984), or Melanie Hamel, Linden Rotary Interact Club contact (540-671-3369).