For years, Broadalbin-Perth students, faculty and staff have helped their neighbors in need through food drives and other charitable giving. While that work continues to make a difference locally, the district is making a more global impact through Rise Against Hunger, a non-profit organization that distributes meals through partner organizations in developing countries and in areas affected by natural and man-made disasters.
Rise Against Hunger distributes meals worldwide through organizations that promote education, encourage children to attend school, improve students’ health and nutrition and fight child labor. Each meal costs 29 cents. Organizations that support Rise Against Hunger raise money to purchase the bulk food from Rise Against Hunger, then host meal packaging events where they prepare meals for shipment to locations in need.
This year, Broadalbin-Perth’s goal is to raise enough money to purchase 50,000 meals – or $14,500. The district, which is once again partnering with the Broadalbin First Presbyterian Church (BFPC) in the community-wide effort, will host a meal packaging event at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10 in the Robert C. Munn Gymnasium at B-P High School. As many as 300 community volunteers will come together to package the meals, which Rise Against Hunger will then distribute to children in need.
BFPC has supported Rise Against Hunger since 2014. Last year, Broadalbin-Perth partnered with BFPC for the first time, organizing an event at which more than 200 volunteers packaged 25,200 meals in just over an hour. The school district and church later learned that these meals helped to feed children in Haiti and Burkina Faso.
Broadalbin-Perth and BFPC are already well on their way to reaching this year’s fundraising goal. Last week, B-P held a district-wide fundraising competition that raised nearly $10,000, and the church has pledged $2,900.
“Volunteerism and helping those in need is an important part of our character education program,” said B-P Superintendent of Schools Stephen Tomlinson. “By supporting Rise Against Hunger, our students gain an opportunity to help other children just like them around the world, while opening their eyes to the global issue of childhood hunger.”
Community members interested in volunteering to package meals on Feb. 10 should sign up online. Individuals can also support the community’s fundraising efforts by making a donation online.