The Nemaha County Ministerial Association is sponsoring the Kids Against Hunger campaign. It is from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the former Hansen Motors building in downtown Auburn. Anyone wanting to volunteer, please contact Anne Yates at 402-274-9057.
Financial contributions are also needed. The goal is to raise $12,000 to make 60,000 meals and to ship them to where they are needed most. A little more than $6,000 has been raised as of late last week. Each meal costs about 20 cents to package, said the Rev. Fred Richart of First United Methodist Church, Auburn.
Ministerial Association representatives are contacting representatives of Auburn area civic groups, youth groups, churches, Auburn and Johnson-Brock Public Schools, the Peru Kiwanis Club and Scout troops to invite them to participate, Richart said.
“We’re inviting all of these groups to come and participate, and bring a team of eight to 10 people,” Richart said.
The Ministerial Association thanked Nemaha County Hospital for supplying the special hats and hairnets to be worn by volunteers while packaging meals.
Kids Against Hunger is an international organization dedicated to providing food for hungry and malnourished persons.
In March 2010, more than 400 persons packaged 60,000 meals in two days.  They ranged in age from preschoolers to more than 80 years. More than $10,000 in contributions were raised to cover the cost of the food, packaging and shipping.
“Last year, volunteers walked in not knowing what was going to happen. When they walked out, they were all smiles. They had a wonderful time. It was a great experience volunteering with other people and helping to feed the world’s hungry people,” Richart said.
Volunteers will complete about 135 meals in a typical one-hour session. Each packet provides six nutritionally complete servings to feed hungry persons at home and starving children internationally. The packets were developed by food scientists at several manufacturers.
Participants are urged to dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes. The floor is concrete. There is no air conditioning. The heat is kept to 65˚. Wearing layers is recommended.
Children should be at least 5 years of age to package. The following ratios are recommended: children age 5-9 need one adult for every six children; youth ages 10-14 need one adult for every 10 children and youth ages 15 and up need one adult for every 20 children.
Fall Festival in Conjunction with Event
The planning committee for the Auburn Community Gardens, Fresh and Local event plans an outdoor fall festival in conjunction with Kids Against Hunger Oct. 22. Plans include serving brats, hot dogs and chili for lunch and dinner, with sides of roasted vegetables, apple and pumpkin pies, and assorted snacks during the day. It is hoped to include hayrides to Lord’s Acre. There is a nominal admission fee. Those who volunteer at Kids Against Hunger will be allowed $1 off the price of admission. Pumpkins will be sold separately. Proceeds will go to Heifer Project International.
The purpose of Fresh and Local is to celebrate the work of the Auburn Community Gardens.