Courtesy of The Star
Students who are part of Crest High’s Future Farmers of America recently tackled hunger in Cleveland County and packaged more than 50,000 meals for those in need.
Last month, the Crest FFA chapter coordinated with “Meals of Hope” to package the meals at Poplar Springs Baptist Church, with help from volunteers from local FFA chapters and other local organizations.
Crest FFA Member, Michael Callahan, became interested in the effort after attending the Washington Leadership Conference last summer. The conference is conducted by the National FFA Organization and focuses on helping build leadership skills that translate into increased service for the local community. Callahan is the vice president for the Crest FFA Chapter and served as the chairperson for the “Crest FFA Feeds Cleveland County” committee that coordinated the project.
Callahan said that the project is “a great way to build community through service.”
The packaged meals were provided to schools throughout Cleveland County using the school social workers. Additionally, meals are also available through a partnership with the Greater Cleveland County Baptist Association.
The food is non-perishable and shelf stable, aiding in the availability of the meals to help those that need them the most. Funding for this project was acquired by student members contacting local sponsors and receiving support and donations. Volunteers were provided lunch on the day of the event sponsored by Poplar Springs Baptist Church and the Runway Cafe.
The Crest FFA Chapter has 238 students members and is part of the North Carolina FFA Association, a youth organization of 32,597 student members preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business, and technology of agriculture. FFA’s mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
Learn More about Meals of Hope
Ready to make a difference in your community? To learn more about Meals of Hope, read more here. To get you or your organization involved in our next meal packing event, fill out our form here. We can’t wait to hear from you!