My experience at a recent Rise Against Hunger meal packaging event is one I will never forget. On June 15, I was fortunate enough to join Fidelity Charitable to package 64,000 meals that will be shipped to Haiti. My mindset going to the event was to meet my community service hours goal, but as the meal packaging event continued, I realized this mission was bigger than just attaining my community service hours. It was change of heart!

During the event, one of Rise Against Hunger facilitators spoke passionately of how Rise Against Hunger’s goal is not to just to hand out meals and provide short-term support, but to help recipients of these meals attain an education which will help them jump start their future. “We are providing hope to these children,” he said. His explanation was very inspiring to me because I was making a difference by helping a school-aged boy or girl to receive something greater in life. Instead of them looking fearfully to the future, they are finally able to see the rainbow at the end of the storm. I could relate in a sense because my mother was a recipient of a school feeding program. If it wasn’t for those meals that were packaged from United States giving her hope of something more in her life, I probably wouldn’t be writing this blog.

When I finished packing the last meal, I felt a sense of inner joy and accomplishment. I had done something meaningful that will make a big impact to someone else. I have packaged meals with other organizations not just at Rise Against Hunger, but this was the first time I felt the impact. I know the meals I packaged  didn’t end hunger — there is a lot of work that needs to be done! My hope is that you won’t read this blog and think, “Yeah, something must be done to end hunger.” Instead, get up and find ways you can help to end hunger. As the saying goes, “Many hands make light work.” The more we all work together, the sooner we help Rise Against Hunger!