Paying It Forward: Power of one #106
Think big. First Christian Church packed 25,000 meals. Impactful in feeding those who hunger. Only two hours were needed because of focused service by community volunteers.
Jack Browne opinion column
March 2, 2025 Times Record News
Isn’t this weather great? It is nice to feel the sun on your body and take a walk.
If it isn’t as you read this, know I wrote this the end of February. Wind chills of -8 Fahrenheit, gave us cabin fever. One risked a frozen nose from taking out the trash!
While homebound, I noticed a 10am Saturday, Feb 22nd event to pack meals ending at noon. First Christian Church hosted and organized the event. I decided that was the perfect thing to do. I had volunteered at a similar event before. If you have not, then I encourage you to join next time.
Rise Against Hunger Area and First Christian Church plan for success. Efforts started by raising funds as well as planning and organizing for the work day.
I joined the event for the work day as one of over 116 volunteers. We spread throughout the room in teams doing similar tasks, who then passed their work to the next group.
Volunteers worked in three areas, literally funneling ingredients into a bag -- scoops of rice, soy, freeze-dried fruits, and vitamins, then thermally sealing the bags and finally packing meals by the case ready for shipment.
Love said. “The volunteers’ hands are literally the last hands to touch the meals before the boxes are opened by the receiving community.” Today’s meals will be sent to Burundi in central Africa. Volunteer efforts enable meal shipments through various events by Rise Against Hunger to nearly 80 countries.
I encourage you to congratulate your friends’ achievement of 125,000 meals packaged over six years by First Christian Church of Wichita Falls, firstchristianwf.com and Rise Against Hunger, https://www.riseagainsthunger.org
As I reflected upon 25,000 meals readied for shipment, I again appreciate the meaning and power of ‘many hands make light work.,” which is attributed to English writer John Heywood.1
Over 120 children will receive meals for over a year. And I helped by showing up for 2 hours, instead of taking a walk.
Don’t forget when you dream, go big. Reach beyond your normal circle of supporters. Did you ask others, or at least post on Facebook? Try it, who knows who will show up.
Be an influencer: one person, 25,000 meals. I own part of it – well a piece of it, along with 116 others.
Jack Browne is a community activist and was technology engineer, sales and marketing executive at Motorola, MIPS Technologies and other companies. How are the children doing?
“Many hands make light work.,” is quoted from Proverbs,published in 1546, written by John Heywood, who lived from 1497-1580. Heywood was an English playwright and poet. Earlier variations of the saying are found in writings from Greece and Rome ancient past.