Over 100 volunteers came out on a beautiful South Georgia day to ensure that the Spring Into Action and Rise Against Hunger event was a success. The event was coordinated and funded by the Rotary Club of Americus as a joint service project with the Student Engagement Team of Georgia Southwestern State University and was held in the GSW Student Success Center.

Volunteers from ages 18 to 85 packed 10,152 meals in just two hours! GSW student athletes, who rank third in the nation in community service hours, helped with set-up and break down of the assembly site on campus.

The venue had to be set up a bit differently to allow for social distancing, but that didn't stop students and Rotarians from quickly assembling the nearly 1,700 food bags (each serving 6 people) which contained soy, dehydrated vegetables, rice, and a vitamin packet. The students had so much fun during their first Rise Against Hunger event that they have asked if it could become an annual event on campus.

Rise Against Hunger is growing a global movement to end hunger by empowering communities, nourishing lives and responding to emergencies. Rise Against Hunger meal packaging volunteers produce millions of nutritious meals annually that are then distributed to partners in countries around the world. Those partners are best able to address the causes and effects of hunger based on their local presence and expertise. The organization ensures the meals distributed by those partners are used as a tool to change lives by promoting education, improving students’ health and nutrition, addressing gender inequalities, stimulating economic growth and fighting child labor. Americus Rotarians want to thank the Rise Against Hunger staff (Laura, Terry, and Mandy) who helped bring this meal packaging event to Americus, GSW Student Activities Coordinator Yaqueline Torres, GSW Assistant Director of Athletics for Community Engagement (and Head Softball Coach) Nicki Levering, and all the amazing volunteers (Rotarians and students) who helped make this event a victory for those in need throughout the world!