I’m returning to some roots today with this blog post. Shortly after starting this blog in March, 2009 I decided I wanted to focus on opportunities to “make a difference”. Today I write about an event in El Dorado, Kansas that will take place from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. December 29 and 30, 2009. The objective is to pack 285,125 meals for hungry children in Haiti. Numana, Incorporated, the organization behind this effort is hoping for enough meals to fill a 40 foot shipping container. Headed by President and CEO, Rick McNary, Numana, an international hunger relief organization, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) public charity founded in August, 2008. The meals we pack in El Dorado will be distributed by the Salvation Army to feed children in Haitian schools.
The meals contain soy protein, freeze-dried veggies, rice and a vitamin/mineral supplement targeted to the immune systems of malnourished children. Ingredients are measured, weighed, sealed, boxed and prepared for shipment.
My daughter Alyssa and I went to a practice packing event several weeks ago and we had a blast! We worked alongside volunteers from age 8 to 80. The environment was light hearted, positive, supportive, and fun for all ages. There’s nothing like hanging out with people energized about making a difference, especially at this time of year!
So, if you have time to give (you can sign up for two hour shifts or stay longer), My daughter Alyssa, my son Stefan, some of my Wichita State University students and I be there full time both days; if you would like to purchase some meals (we currently have donations to cover 152,500 meals ((about 53% of our goal))at 30 cents per meal), or if you just want to learn more about Numana, visit their website at: http://www.numanainc.com or call Rick McNary at (877)452-5445 for more information. To volunteer, click on the volunteer button at the top of the home page. To donate, click on the donate button.
Want to spread the cheer of the season to hungry children in Haiti? Bring your family, friends, youth group, church group, office mates, etc. and join us in this high energy, “make a difference” event!
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Am astonished at how much this tiny, obscure charity can do, compared to the biggest names in the business! While the Red Cross was bragging on its website about sending enough supplies for “5,000 families”, Numana was packing up over 500,000 meals, and shipping them to Haiti!
Numana really GETS it! When I saw those meals being air-dropped into Haiti, on the Monday evening national news, I realized that those were (probably) the Numana meals, being delivered as scheduled (a later check of the internet found a media report quoting the Salvation Army as saying just that). It was especially gratifying to see — since I HELPED!
I participated in the event last weekend, in El Dorado, and it was GREAT! I’m wary of donating to unfamiliar charities, but it was clear that this one wasn’t out to pick my pocket, but to put me to work serving the poor, and to IMMEDIATELY get aid to desperate, dying Haiti. It was great to be a part of a hands-on production of actual meals, which were on its way to the people who need it so desperately. So glad to KNOW i was actually doing something useful in this crisis.
Looked like a lot of kids were there, and getting excited about working alongside adults. What a great way to teach good values, by example — as well as to give kids a sense of their own potential to be productive people in society. And they really seemed to love it!
I just felt good to be surrounded by so many coscientious and caring people, trying so hard to “do the right thing.”
And it WORKED! Can’t wait to do it again, this weekend at the Kansas Coliseum.
Hope they extend it through Sunday, so people can take their familes after church — giving pastors a chance to point them there, and to give them a chance to immediately LIVE OUT the virtues preached that morning.
I’m not a religious guy, but for me, this WAS a religious experience! WOW!
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