John R. Wooden Middle School Students to Pack 40,000 Meals for Morgan County Food Pantries

On Friday, March 15, 2024, approximately 150 John R. Wooden Middle School students will participate in a unique service program to fight local hunger. Through a partnership with Indianapolis non-profit Pack Away Hunger (PAH), students will experience 45 minutes nutrition & hunger education curriculum and will pack 38,000 meals for Morgan County food pantries.

“Our programs seek to educate the public about hunger and give groups a hands-on opportunity to create nutritious meals for those in need,” said Abigail Harlan, PAH Executive Director. “We’re especially passionate about engaging students in the conversation about hunger in their world and empowering them to be a part of the solution.”

During the program, a PAH staff member will lead 45 minutes of hunger education, followed by two hours of meal packing.  Students will work together in assembly-line style to create nutritious meals made of rice, soy, vegetables, and vitamins and minerals. The meal pouches will be distributed to food insecure residents of Morgan County through Wooden/Bell Food Pantry, located at the school, and Churches in Mission’s Martinsville location.

The event is also orchestrated by Christa Mathews, a science teacher and extracurricular leader at the school. “Not only are the meals a blessing to our community, the opportunity for a large group of middle schoolers to work hard together for the benefit of others and enjoy it is priceless.” she commented.

The education program and meals for Morgan County food pantries are generously sponsored, in part, by a grant from the Community Foundation of Morgan County.

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Pack Away Hunger is an Indianapolis-based non-profit dedicated to eliminating hunger in Indiana and around the world through nutritious food, education and service. Through partnerships with like-minded organizations, they pack and distribute the highly nutritious Nutri-Plenty® Meal to local food pantries and international communities in need.