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MILLERSTOWN – As many as 50,000 people could be fed in Juniata and Perry counties this year thanks to Greenwood High School Future Farmers of America.
Krista Pontius is the agriculture teacher and FFA advisor. The Greenwood Chapter has packaged meals for hungry individuals in the past – but on an international level. Pontius said the students are excited for the opportunity to help the hungry locally with meal packing Feb. 5 at Greenwood Elementary School in Millerstown.
Last year one of Pontius’s students took part in the FFA Washington, D.C. Leadership Conference.
The conference partners with Meals of Hope, and challenged FFA members to get their chapters to make enough food for 50,000 people in their area.
If they succeed, an FFA member in their chapter will receive a scholarship valued at $775 to attend the 2016 Leadership Conference.
The Greenwood chapter is trying to raise $12,500 in order to make this many meals possible.
“The Perry Valley Grange offered to match whatever the community donates up to $6,000,” Pontius said.
Meals of Hope was founded by Stephen Popper, who was challenged by a friend to help ship needed food to Haiti. He realized that such a need for food exists here in this country as well.
The meals being packed and prepared for the food pantries in Juniata and Perry counties will consist of fortified macaroni and cheese that includes soy protein, 21 vitamins and minerals and a packet of cheese.
The meal is placed in a box and vacuum sealed.
“You just throw it in boiling water to heat it up,” Pontius explained.
Pontius said that besides financial donations, the FFA team needs volunteers. It takes 140 individuals to pack 50,000 meals in four hours, she said.
There are two work slots: 5 to 7 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Feb. 5 at the elementary school in Millerstown.
The FFA students sent out hundreds of letters to area churches and community groups in and around their school district, which makes up Greenwood Township in Juniata County and Greenwood Township in Perry County, requesting financial and physical help.
“We liked that the meals stay here in the area and thought perhaps to get the community behind the effort a little more,” Pontius said.
Letters were sent in December, and little response has been generated. Pontius said the lack of support at this point may have to do with people waiting until after the holidays to commit.
Meals of Hope needs to know how many meals should be shipped to Millerstown by Jan. 22.
Some fundraisers this month for the program include a 25 percent donation from Harshbarger’s, near Port Royal, when patrons eat at the restaurant Jan. 19 to support the Greenwood Chapter.
There is also a ham and cheese sandwich sale taking place.
“That may not sound like an exciting fundraiser, but last year we raised $1,700 just making sandwiches,” Pontius said.
The students have also asked for donations from other clubs within the school.
FFA students like Rachael Little are actively pursuing the cause by spreading the word.
“This event is more personable. It’s cool we’re connecting with Meals of Hope. We don’t realize people are going hungry – not just starving – but they are not being fed properly. This helps them meet their nutritional daily value,” Little said.
The meal packing event promises to be exciting, Pontius said. An FFA student will DJ the event and announce when the meal production reaches 5,000 and then 10,000 and so on. Cheering takes place, and everyone is productive and having fun, Pontius said.
Anyone can volunteer to help, but Pontius would like to know how many volunteers will be in attendance and asks that interested individuals contact her at kpontius@greenwoodsd.org or 717-589-3116, extension 1209.
To make a financial contribution, the Greenwood Alumni FFA is accepting all donations, since the group is able to accept tax deductible donations: Greenwood FF Alumni, c/o Heather Brummer, 405 E. Sunbury St., Millerstown, PA 17062.
For more information on Meals of Hope, visit the website www.meals-of-hope.org.