Feed the Hunger will be hosting a Spirit Night tonight at Chick-fil-A on Jackson Avenue. From 5-9 p.m., 15 percent of customers’ dine-in proceeds will be donated to the annual Oxford Pack-A-Thon event held in February.
“You wouldn’t believe how much money it takes to be able to bring all of the food, ingredients and supplies needed for the Pack-A-Thon,” said Kate Redding, University of Mississippi student representative for Feed the Hunger. “The Spirit Night at Chick-fil-A will help fund that.”
In addition to using the revenue generated from food sales at Chick-Fil-A on Spirit Night, the Feed the Hunger team will sell “Hope for Africa” T-shirts and jewelry that was handmade in Kenya at the event.
The charitable organization provides nutrient-rich food and necessities to more than 7,500 malnourished children in countries across the world including Kenya, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Haiti and Jamaica. In addition, they offer aid to children in Kentucky and South Dakota.
“Almost 25,000 children die every day around the world, and 93 million cannot go to school,” said Melinda Staples, Feed the Hunger event coordinator. “Feed the Hunger is three things: feeding the physical, helping a child receive an education and feeding the spiritual – the word of God. It is also feeding the hunger within you, the event participant, to make a difference in a life. So many people search their entire life trying to fill that void within them and wanting to do something greater. Here is a way that they can fulfill that desire.”
Courtney Baxter, junior criminal justice and psychology double major, plans to attend Wednesday’s Spirit Night. In the past, Baxter has participated in numerous events supporting Feed the Hunger. In the summer of 2013, she traveled with the organization on a mission trip to deliver the packaged food to Nairobi, Kenya.
“What makes Feed the Hunger different from other philanthropies is that you are given the opportunity to see firsthand where your hard work and service is going,” Baxter said. “Being able to deliver and actually hand food you’ve packed to the children is the best part. They know what it is. To us, it’s rice — not really exciting — but they are so thrilled. Just to see the joy and happiness in their eyes is amazing.”
Last winter, Redding and her fellow student representative Casey Hice took a trip with Feed the Hunger to deliver packaged food in Haiti.
“You can’t even describe it unless you actually see the way that some of these people live. It’s just really incredible,” Redding said. “I mean, given their circumstances, they’re so happy. You walk in and the kids are dancing and running around and screaming and laughing. They just want to be held and played with. They’re not just excited about the food. They’re excited for you to be there.”
The hands-on experience that Feed the Hunger provides its volunteers is what sets it apart from other charities, according to Staples.
“Your few minutes with a child could allow them to dream and invision that their life does have hope,” Staples said. “Maybe one day, because they have received the nutritious food that you have packed, they will be able to get an education, live a healthy life and maybe one day change their village and the world.”
For information about the Feed the Hunger team, contact olemissfth@gmail.com.
— Lacey Russell
llrusse2@go.olemiss.edu
