Students and the community unite to support starving children
By Taylor J. Hale
Reporter
STEVENS POINT — UW-Stevens Point (UWSP) students and other community members united to support the global struggle to feed starving children.
The Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) MobilePack event took place on Feb. 22 and 23 at the Noel Hangar in Stevens Point, the program was hosted by UWSP student organization Sigma Mu Tau (Society of Allied Health Professionals).
“Sigma Mu Tau is here along with a lot of other members from the community,” said Sigma Mu Tau Advisor Michelle Shulfer. “It’s a good mix of community members and a presence from UWSP.”
Participants at the event packed scientifically formulated meals into boxes that will be shipped to over 70 countries to feed children in need. The portable dishes consist mainly of rice, soy and proteins that are easily digestible by malnourished metabolisms. Children around the age of 5-years-old are the main demographic for the meals.
“This is the first year the program is at UWSP,” Shulfer said. “We are expecting about 500 volunteers between the two days, so we should get a lot packed,”
Sigma Mu Tau expected to reach their set goal of 100,000 meals packed during their second day of the newly spearheaded operation. FMSC, a Christian non-profit group, has helped coordinate food drives since 1987 and disseminates the packaged meals across the globe through their refined distribution network.
“The students learned about the program and asked me to look into it,” Shulfer explained. “It was really all their doing. The students worked so hard to bring it to the area.”
Multiple packing sessions took place during the two-day duration of the food campaign. Volunteers normally pack around one box per period, with each box containing 36 bags holding ‘six meals.
Sigma Mu Tau Student President Jordan Sorenson attended the packing days. She was “moved” by the community’s dedication.
“It’s really important to think about the impact that we can make as a campus,” she said. “People should spend some time outside of their studies to help out.”
UWSP student Theresa Shulfer also came out to support youth in need. She sees the event as a way to “show people they can do a lot of good with a very small amount of their time and help a lot of people.”
Volunteers in attendance noted that meals cost roughly 23 cents a piece, and donations to Feed My Starving Children are always welcome. There is a fundraising goal set at $24,000. With the help of the UWSP student body and the Portage County community, Feed My Starving
Children seems set to continue to serve those in need across the globe.
To donate to the cause or learn more about FMSC visit https://give.fmsc.org/campaign/1902-229ea-stevens-point-wi-uwsp/c204995.
Contact Taylor J. Hale at [email protected] with Portage County news and information.