BRICK In the all-purpose room of Visitation Roman Catholic Church on Mantoloking Road, the Brick Clergy Association organized an annual event to combat world hunger.
In order to package 10,000 meals distributed by Rise Against Hunger, a non-profit global hunger relief organization, an estimated 100 volunteers from the interfaith group of local clergy put on plastic gloves and hairnets.
More than 40 million meals are shipped by Rise Against Hunger to more than 30 nations worldwide. The food is donated to community development initiatives, schools, and orphanages. They started the meal package initiative in 2005, having already been established in 1998 under the name Stop Hunger Now.
The volunteers were arranged into stations by Jessica Spiller and Joe Ianni, coordinators for the international humanitarian organization, where they measured, scooped, weighed, packed, and put into bins dehydrated soy, a vitamin pack, dried veggies, and rice.
According to Spiller, each plastic bag held the equivalent of six meals.
As the crew awaited their packaging instructions, Spiller stated that the communities these meals are going to will provide a youngster with what may be their only meal of the day. Hunger can be eradicated and reduced to zero thanks to these 10,000 meals.
Individual gifts, business sponsorships, grant programs, matching gift programs, and foundation collaborations are some of the ways the non-profit organization raises money.
Although it is not a religious organization, Rise Against Hunger collaborates with volunteers from diverse organizations, businesses, schools, and places of worship.
“This was my sixth or seventh time attending the Rise Against Hunger event, which takes place in a different house of worship every year,” said Babette Perednia, a parishioner of Living Faith Church in Brick.
“I love how the community is coming together and how this has an impact on the entire world,” she remarked. Following the filling of a shipping container, the meals are all shelf-stable until they are distributed.
Preparing the meals is a great way to help those who are less fortunate than we are, according to Sharon Monter, president of Temple Beth Or. It gives you a sense of warmth and goodwill to help others.
This was Mike Kraymick’s third time volunteering for the Rise Against Hunger food packing initiative. Kraymick’s church, Brick Presbyterian Church, hosted the event two years ago.
He added that every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., he volunteers at the church’s food bank. I’m fortunate to have healthy kids and a nice retirement, but folks need assistance.
It’s great to see people of all religions come together, said Father Ed Blanchett, whose Visitation Roman Catholic Church hosted the event.
“The fellowship is so wonderful to see, and the food is important,” he remarked.
St. Dominic’s Parish Roman Catholic Church, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, St. Raphael the Archangel Episcopal Church, Temple Beth Or, Living Faith Bible Church, Brick Presbyterian Church, First Baptist Church of Laurelton, and Visitation Roman Catholic Church were among the participating houses of worship.
