Dillard University’s Class of 2017 sealed their freshman bond by starting the year off with a community service project that included packaging 10,140 meals for those in need in just two hours. Many hands make the workload light, and students did their part to assist in feeding children worldwide through Stop Hunger Now, an international hunger relief agency.
The students packaged meals in an assembly line process, which combines rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables and a flavoring mix including 21 vitamins and minerals into small meal packages. They are shipped around the world to support school feeding programs and crisis relief. The food has a shelf-life of two years.
Being able to reach out to others is personal for Nathan Gros, a freshman music major at Dillard. The New Orleans native has been on the receiving end of accepting the kindness of others after losing his home during Hurricane Katrina. Though he and his family fled the city to Texas before the storm, their New Orleans East neighborhood was under 8 feet of water.
“Katrina is one of the causes of a fatal event in my family,” Gros said. “My father died after Katrina. I can appreciate what it means to help someone. Helping to eradicate hunger worldwide is an important cause.”
In a city known for its cuisine, before the packaging process began, students heard a presentation about the needs in the U.S. and throughout the world and were given statistics to gain a greater appreciation for their efforts.
“You hear about hunger a lot on TV, but you never really understand the severity until you are right there preparing the food,” Gros said. “Anybody who knows me knows that I have a passion for community service. I’m honored to be a part of it.”
Students partnered with Stop Hunger Now to learn about the impact of world hunger. For half a day, resident advisers and orientation leaders guided the students, who were donned with hairnets and gloves. Stop the Hunger Now’s headquarters are based in Raleigh, N.C.
