CCU’s Greek community hopes to Stop Hunger Now
Stop Hunger Now is a volunteer-based meal-packaging event that provides highly nutritious dehydrated meals comprised of rice, soy, vegetables, seasonings and 21 essential vitamins and minerals. The Greek community hopes to raise $7,500 to fund the meals.
"Service is a core value for fraternities and sororities, and while they regularly do volunteer service as individual chapters, it was important to pull the entire community together so they could see the impact of working together toward a common goal," said organizer Ariel Tarosky, director of Fraternity and Sorority Life at CCU. "Having it on Martin Luther King Jr. Day seemed perfect because it was a day the students could serve in honor of a man who served our country."
Around the world, more than 868 million people lack adequate food, and more than 25,000 die each day from hunger-related illnesses. Stop Hunger Now operates meal packaging locations in 17 cities throughout the U.S. and international locations in South Africa and Malaysia. Four new locations opened in 2013 including: Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, Mexico and Italy. More than 250,000 volunteers from corporations, churches, schools and civic organizations have packaged Stop Hunger Now meals.
Founded in 1998, Stop Hunger Now has delivered aid and disaster relief supplies in the form of food, medical supplies, clothing, school supplies and more to thousands of disaster victims and other hungry and vulnerable people in 65 countries.
"What we want everyone to know is that hunger is solvable and is the common thread among the world's most challenging issues. When hunger is targeted, you give leverage and hope to every other cause, including poverty, disease, education and the welfare of women and children," said Rod Brooks, president and CEO of Stop Hunger Now.
For more information or to volunteer, contact Tarosky at 843-349-2301 or by email at atarosky@coastal.edu.