IAFF Local 2665 teams with church to prepare 20,000 meals

Webster Groves, MO – On Feb.1, as many Americans were spending their time contemplating and preparing for what to eat during the Super Bowl, on- and off-duty members of the Webster Groves Fire Department (IAFF Local 2665) were volunteering their time and energy with members of the Webster Groves Presbyterian Church to prepare 20,000 meals in conjunction with the group Stop Hunger Now.

Stop Hunger Now is a not-for-profit agency committed to ending hunger in our lifetime. To do so, they team up with churches and civic organizations around the country to prepare complete meal kits that feed six people, and only require the recipients to add the contents to boiling water.

The meals, consisting of rice, soy, vitamins, and dried vegetables, are shipped to over 60 developing countries around the world.

‘OPPORTUNITY TO HELP’

“This was an amazing opportunity to help out a great church in our community and give back not only to Webster Groves, but to a very worthy cause whose impact will be felt halfway around the globe,” said Jason Simpson, shop steward for Local 2665 at the Webster Groves Fire Department

Simpson said the fire fighters required no persuading to participate.

All on-duty members happily gave up their Sunday morning plans to assist, and numerous off-duty members came to assist as well, Simpson said.

Several also brought their spouses and children.

About 15 members of the Webster Groves Fire Department and approximately 80 members of the Webster Groves Presbyterian Church packaged 20,000 meals in just under four hours.

GETTING FOOD TO THE NEEDY

Approximately 25,000 people per day die due to hunger related causes, according to the Stop Hunger Now website (stophungernow.org).

That happens despite the fact that presently there are more than four pounds of food per inhabitant of the planet.

“The issue is not the lack of food, but the presence of war, political discord, lack of education, and poverty that prevents the food from reaching those who need it the most,” said Baylee DeLaurier, Kansas City program manager of Stop Hunger Now.