The Bowling Green community came together to bag 70,000 meals for distribution for local and worldwide foodbanks.
The Bowling Green Rotary Club and Bowling Green State University held a one-day event on Friday to package 60,000 meals for community and worldwide distribution.
An estimated 400 volunteers were needed throughout the day to unload and package the meals inside the BGSU Perry Field House.
“We had a couple Rotarians that participated in a similar event a couple years ago. It piqued the interest of our Rotary Club in working with the Kids Coalition Against Hunger. We had a successful fundraiser back in April, which gave us the ability to purchase the products needed to make 70,000 meals,” said Steve Conlin, Bowling Green Rotary Club president. “One third of the meals made will be dispersed to the local food banks here in Bowling Green. Another third of them will be dispersed regionally (to Cleveland and Toledo). The remaining meals will be for disaster relief and shipped abroad.”
This event was in line with the mission and spirit of the Rotary Club, he said.
Kids Coalition Against Hunger is a 501(c)(3) organization that coordinates packaging events throughout the eastern half of the United States, providing food for starving adults and children both worldwide and in local communities.
“We are here to gather volunteers from each community to collaborate and feed people. We are here for a greater purpose,” said Chloe Burwell, KCAH volunteer. “We are sending the meals to third world countries as well as local food banks. Networking and helping each other out to bring resources to those in need is our focal point.”
According to their website, the KCAH produces a 390-gram food packet that provides enough nutrition for six adults or twelve kids. The packets, which have a 3-plus year shelf life, are then boxed and distributed.
“We’re here helping bag lunches and food for people in need. It’s a very charitable cause in the BG community. We were asked to rally together and support those who need it,” said Sean Drexl, BGSU volleyball assistant coach. “Our head coach is a part of the Rotary and rallied as many people as she could for a great cause. Our goal is to bag 70,000 meals.”
The BGSU athletics program and the C. Raymond Marvin Center for Student Leadership and Civic Engagement were partners in Friday’s event.
The goal of KCAH is to package over eight million meals annually by the end of 2026.
“We are making bags for the mission trip to Guatemala,” said Jaxon Windom, Bowling Green High School junior. “They are supposed to be quick and easy bags that have a lot of nutrients in them.”
