National Honor Society volunteered with the Tempe branch of Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) for the second time this year on Wednesday, Nov 13. FMSC is a non-profit Christian organization that ships meals to nearly 70 countries worldwide in hopes of feeding malnourished children. The company is committed to “feeding God’s starving children hungry in body and spirit.”

There is currently enough food in the world to feed everyone- the problem arises with the way this food is distributed. FMSC hopes to redistribute the food supply, so as to ensure that hunger and malnutrition are decreased worldwide. Junior Julie Drake is in awe of the program that FMSC has implemented in the past 20 years. “Being able to see where the food was going to and hearing stories about the families receiving it were really eye-opening and just an overall moving experience,” said Drake.

Each meal has been specifically formulated by scientists to provide emaciated children aged four to eight with adequate nourishment. The meals consist of over 20 types of vitamins and minerals to sufficiently meet a child’s nutritional needs for a day. The packing method has become a mantra for regular volunteers: vitamins, veggies, soy, and rice.

For many, volunteering for FMSC is a way to bond with friends and engage in some friendly competition, while making a difference in the lives of children around the world. During its’ hour and a half session, National Honor Society managed to hand-pack enough meals to feed 29 children for an entire year. Senior Orion Igleheart said of his fellow NHS members:  “I love all the enthusiasm in the NHS crew and it makes me happy that we all worked so hard.”

FMSC is run solely by the support of its volunteers- whether that includes monetary donations or manual labor. Because ingredients cost the organization quite a bit, FMSC asks that volunteers help to cover the cost of the meals they pack. Each meal costs only 22 cents and contributions are welcomed through fundraisers and the purchase of FMSC merchandise. Senior Heather Doern encourages volunteering for this organization because of its commitment to excellence and novelty. “Not only do they nourish the children, but they also give them hope for their future. And it’s a fun, interactive place to earn community service; it never feels like work.”

 To learn more about volunteering with Feed My Starving Children, visit http://www.fmsc.org/volunteer.