Local Church Packs 35,000 Meals with Meals of Hope
Article courtesy of Daily Local News
EAST BRANDYWINE—More than 100 people from ages three to 83 met at Hopewell United Methodist Church (UMC) in Downingtown Sundy to pack 35,000 meals in two hours, in partnership with Meals of Hope. The event was part of the church’s month-long Campaign for Kindness, encouraging and engaging Chester County residents and businesses to spread kindness throughout the community.
Approximately half of the meals packed within the two-hour timespan are being distributed locally through the Chester County Food Bank and the remainder will be distributed through Meals of Hope to people in Haiti, a country that Hopewell UMC supports through its Beyond the Walls program.
The Smith family helps to pack 35,000 meals with Hopewell UMC as part of the Campaign for Kindness. (courtesy of Daily Local News)
“In a season when food insecurity is high and food donations are low, we saw this opportunity with Meals of Hope as a way to show kindness in a very tangible and necessary way,” said Hopewell UMC Senior Pastor Amy Banka. “Through the generosity of our Campaign for Kindness sponsors, we were able to fund the ingredients for 35,000 healthy meals, sourced through Meals of Hope and prepared in a way that allows people of all ages to pack them up ready for distribution.”
“Packing these meals brings together families and friends for a fun and rewarding experience, and is a great example of how spreading kindness brings joy to the giver as well as the recipient.”
Hopewell’s Campaign for Kindness, taking place through the month of October, is encouraging everyone to explore and act upon ways to be kind to others. With the reminder to #LoveYourNeighbor, it is, in the words of Pastor Banka, “asking everyone to follow the example of Jesus to love our neighbor and spread kindness through our community.”
In addition to the meal packing event, Hopewell’s kindness campaign includes home repair projects with Good Works, making and serving meals at Safe Harbor in West Chester, helping with flood relief work, and participating in reverse Trick or Treat events at senior living facilities.
Hopewell’s Campaign for Kindness also provides ideas for acts of kindness at little or no cost, including giving someone a compliment, offering an umbrella to someone in the rain, and calling someone you haven’t spoken to in a while, to buying a gift card for someone in need, sending someone a card, and donating a book to a “Little Free Library.”
For more information on Meals of Hope, click here, and for more information on Campaign for Kindness ideas, click here.
