A More Light Congregation

Bethany Presbyterian Church

Stop Hunger Now 2013

(Click on any photo below to enlarge, or to begin the slideshow.)

In two short hours, 39 Bethany folk packed up 10K meals for hungry children and adults. Come see what we did!

We were greeted in the morning by the smiling faces of Ellen and Paulette, who got us all signed in.
We were greeted in the morning by the smiling faces of Ellen and Paulette, who got us all signed in.
 "Give us your information, sign in, put on a hair net, and sanitize your hands before you go into the project room!"
 "Give us your information, sign in, put on a hair net, and sanitize your hands before you go into the project room!"
We gathered in eager anticipation of the morning's activities
We gathered in eager anticipation of the morning's activities
All in our places with bright, shining faces
All in our places with bright, shining faces
There's nothing like doing good work with dear friends!
There's nothing like doing good work with dear friends!
Our  leader was Chris.  He gave us a run down of what the project is all about, and what it can mean to a hungry child to get the food we were about to prepare.
Our leader was Chris. He gave us a run down of what the project is all about, and what it can mean to a hungry child to get the food we were about to prepare.
Then he gave us step-by-step directions for the project.
Then he gave us step-by-step directions for the project.
There were 4 stations that looked like this.
There were 4 stations that looked like this.
Into these sealable bags (via the filling funnel) go flavoring packs..
Into these sealable bags (via the filling funnel) go flavoring packs..
... a spoonful of dehydrated vegetables...
... a spoonful of dehydrated vegetables...
... a scoop of soy protien...
... a scoop of soy protien...
... and a scoop of rice.
... and a scoop of rice.
Next the bags are each weighed. If they come in under- or over-weight, a little rice is spooned into or out of the bag to make it just right.
Next the bags are each weighed. If they come in under- or over-weight, a little rice is spooned into or out of the bag to make it just right.
The bags are then sealed, and laid out on this mat, which has 18 squares on it...
The bags are then sealed, and laid out on this mat, which has 18 squares on it...
Once there are 2 bags on each square (36 bags in all)...
Once there are 2 bags on each square (36 bags in all)...
... they are boxed up and tallied
... they are boxed up and tallied
And each time we boxed up the equivalent of 1,000 meals (about every 5 boxes or so) we got to ring the gong and cheer!  Huzzah!
And each time we boxed up the equivalent of 1,000 meals (about every 5 boxes or so) we got to ring the gong and cheer!  Huzzah!
Ready, GO!
Ready, GO!
After a few tries, everyone got the hang of it
After a few tries, everyone got the hang of it
And everyone had a marvelous time!
And everyone had a marvelous time!
Just look at these happy faces!
Just look at these happy faces!
In addition to filling the meal bags, there were people refilling the bagging stations
In addition to filling the meal bags, there were people refilling the bagging stations
More soy, please!
More soy, please!
In addition to the "fillers", we had "runners" delivering the bags to and fro. (This is Skip Q., one of our founding members!)
In addition to the "fillers", we had "runners" delivering the bags to and fro. (This is Skip Q., one of our founding members!)
Hannah and William took charge of counting up the bags on the counting mat, and also were our quality control persons - no leaky bags!
Hannah and William took charge of counting up the bags on the counting mat, and also were our quality control persons - no leaky bags!
There were a lot of smiles around the tables, and no one stopped until the last gong rang and we were DONE!
There were a lot of smiles around the tables, and no one stopped until the last gong rang and we were DONE!