Since 2011 friends, neighbors and family across the Wilton area have been gathering on the third Saturday of October to package meals for Rise Against Hunger. It’s the largest single-day Rise Against Hunger volunteer event in New England. Last year more than 600 volunteers packaged 137,000 meals. To date, over 1.5 million meals have been sent to otherwise starving children around the world.
This year’s event — as always, sponsored by the Wilton Interfaith Action Commitee (WI-ACT) — is on Saturday, Oct. 19. Organizers once again have set a food packaging goal of 135,000 individual, highly nutritious meals packaged in one day — enough to feed 400 malnourished children for an entire year wherever the need is greatest.
Words almost cannot do justice to this joyous volunteer experience, but so many past participants say taking part is one of the most uplifting and meaningful things they’ve ever done. More than 100 people in a room work together while doing something that will literally save lives — creating life-sustaining meal packages — is soul-sustaining for everyone who volunteers. Community members of all ages work side-by-side to do incredible good.
Organizers shared a three-minute video produced about the event by Wilton’s Ella Breitenbach, currently a first-year student at Cornell University.
This event depends on two essential factors: the purchase of bulk ingredients for the meals and volunteers to package them. Many generous donations have been made by congregations, businesses, and individuals to purchase the ingredients. As in the past, along with Wilton faith institutions, ASML and the Wilton Kiwanis Club are leading the way for the corporate and nonprofit levels. As an added treat, RISE Doughnuts will once again provide doughnuts for volunteers after their shifts.
To succeed Wi-Act needs community members’ support. Donations can still be sent to Wi-Act Treasurer, 36 New Canaan Rd, Wilton, CT 06897. But the primary focus now is seeking volunteers.
“From 7 years old on up, all are welcome to join us for this wonderful experience, either alone or with your whole family, including grandparents,” Wi-Act Chair Steve Hudspeth said.
The event is held at WEPCO (36 New Canaan Rd,) and volunteers can sign up online for two-hour shifts, starting at 9-11 a.m., 11 a.m.-1 p.m., 1-3 p.m., and 3-5 p.m.