GIFFORD — Nearly 350 volunteers are needed to prepare 100,000 meal packages for hungry children and families as a result of an expected $50,000 raised by The Ride to Beat Hunger.
Rev. Scott Alexander, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Vero Beach, is currently on a demanding month-long, 3,300 mile bike ride across America to beat hunger.
The ride began on Sunday, April 22, from Costa Mesa, California, and will end at a welcome home rally at Waldo’s inside the historic Driftwood Resort on Vero’s beach Tuesday, May 22, at 5:30 p.m.
His goal in raising $50,000 will be split evenly between the Harvest Food and Outreach Center of Vero Beach (which distributes low cost food locally to those in need) and Stop Hunger Now, 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 of a world without hunger and a mission to end hunger in our lifetime by providing food and life-saving aid to the world’s most vulnerable and by creating a global commitment to mobilize the necessary resources.
By the time Alexander completes his ride on May 22, plans will be on auto pilot for the final leg of his journey, a meal packaging event to be held Saturday, June 9, at the Gifford Youth Activity Center.
Thanks to Freddie Woolfork and Angelia Perry of GYAC, they have opened the doors to their gymnasium for the meal packaging assembly teams of volunteers willing to donate a few hours of their time to weigh, seal, and pack dehydrated, high protein, and highly nutritious meals destined for Haiti to feed hungry children at the Haiti Outreach Ministries schools, clinic, and the nursery of their working mothers’ co-op.
“We have estimated that it will take nearly upwards of 350 volunteers for our meal packaging event,” stated Maureen Labadie and her husband Larry, coordinators of the Stop Hunger Now Meal Packaging Day, members of The Ride to Beat Hunger committee, and representatives of the Rotary Club of Vero Beach Oceanside, project sponsor.
“This will be an all community event, crossing all cultures, ages, and faiths representative of our vibrant and generous community. We have volunteer teams from local Rotary clubs, banks, the business community, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, and other civic, religious and non profit organizations. We are encouraging ages 12 and up to come forward and join us. In the end, it will be a very rewarding, feel-good day for all involved,” added Maureen Labadie.
The teams will be split into two groups, either in the morning from 9:30-11:30 a.m. (registration will begin at 9 a.m.), or from 1-3 p.m. (registration begins at 12:30 p.m.)
Groups working together, please choose a team leader, and designate the number of volunteers on your team. One leader minimum per twenty volunteers is recommended.
No experience is necessary as the tasks at funnel stations, scales, sealing machines, boxing, and clean up will be demonstrated and supervised. Everyone can participate at their own comfort level, and the challenge will be fun and so worthwhile.
“We are very pleased to have reached this point in our 10 month planning for The Ride to Beat Hunger and the Stop Hunger Now Meal Packaging Day,” explained Labadie. “The response from the community has been overwhelming, and of course, we are so proud of Rev. Alexander for approaching our Rotary Club Oceanside, of which he is a member, to become involved in this outstanding project.”
Registration online is quick and easy at www.TheRideToBeatHunger.org. Click the event registration link or contact volunteer coordinator Maureen Labadie at (772) 473-1036.
The Gifford Youth Activity Center (GYAC) is located at 4875 43rd Ave. in Vero Beach on the corner of 49th St. and 43rd Ave.
Alexander’s goal of raising $50,000 is close. All donations will now be assigned matching Angel dollars, dollar for dollar, thanks to a recent donor.
Checks can be made out to Indian River Community Foundation for The Ride to Beat Hunger and can be sent to P.O. Box 650126, Vero Beach, FL 32965.
For more information on donating to The Ride to Beat Hunger, call Don Croteau at (772) 778-5249.