(Le Mars) — The Hunger Relief Program, “Then Feed Just One” is happening now at Gehlen Catholic School. Volunteers comprising of Gehlen students, staff and faculty, Opportunities Unlimited, and others from businesses and the community have gathered to assemble meal packets. Dick Sievert, the Director for the organization, “Then Feed Just One” explains what is included in those meals.
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Sievert says over the eleven years of existence, Gehlen has produced well over one and a half million meals. The director of the hunger relief organization says all told, with other schools, churches, and others contributing, more than ten million meals have been created and sent to Honduras. Sievert says the program got started from a medical mission to Honduras, when a woman after being treated for her medical ailments told the doctor she was disappointed.
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Sievert says it was shortly there after that he was able to organize efforts to distribute food to the starving children of Honduras.
In a study by the World Health Organization and UNICEF, 29 percent of the children living in Honduras will be affected by stunting, or when the brain doesn’t have an opportunity to fully develop due to malnutrition.
Sievert says he has a contract with the Dole Company to load a container for the backhaul to assist with the transportation of the food from Le Mars to Honduras.
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Sievert says the total cost to ship the food is quite minimal.
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Officials say they hope to create and pack up to 120,000 to 130,000 meals during today’s activity.
