Teamwork Young people from the Staples Motley area (including Taylor Klimek, Samantha Weyer and Jaci Jeziorski pictured above) took part in a MobilePack TM event last winter in the Twin Cities, part of the Feed My Starving Children program. They worked as a team (along with other volunteers) to package thousands of meals for starving children around the world. This event was part of the impetus for bringing the packing event to Staples Feb. 6 - 7. (Submitted photo) Volunteers are still needed to help with the Twin Cities based Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) event scheduled for Feb. 6 and 7, at Central Lakes College in Staples.

“This is an amazing opportunity for our community to help feed thousands of starving children throughout the world,” said Rynell Schock, one of the event coordinators. “It’s pretty exciting for small towns like Staples and Motley to be a part of such a large undertaking. Imagine, 100,000 children fed by people from our small community.”

Five hundred volunteers are required to help; with each signing up for a two-hour shift. In addition, $17,000 must be raised to pay for the meals produced (each meal costs 17 cents). The event is being made possible through a partnership between churches in Staples and Motley; and FMSC.

“We’ll be packing 100,000 meals for children around the world,” said Diane Thomason of Staples, in charge of scheduling the volunteer shifts.

Planning At least 20 people met Jan. 11, at Sacred Heart Church in Staples, to hear updates from various committee members involved with the The vision of the FMSC event, Rynell explained at a planning meeting Jan. 11, is that it will have an inter-generational impact for this community, as well as an impact for children around the world.

Rynell, a member of the Staples United Methodist Church, has participated (along with other members of her church) in past FMSC events held in the Twin Cities area.

The experience has been lifechanging for Rynell and others.

“I haven’t had the chance to go myself,” said Diane Thomason, another member of Staples United Methodist Church. “But I was moved by the stories I heard from others who had gone and couldn’t seem to forget about it. God seemed to keep tapping me on the shoulder...telling me that we should host an event right here in our area.”

It started out as a way to bring community members together, Diane added. “My home church thought it would be a good out-reach activity. So often, you only get to know people in your own church, or civic organization.”

After hearing about the FMSC program, it didn’t take long for other churches to get excited about the possibility of hosting a MobilePack TM event in Staples.

It’s been a big surprise, Diane said, as to how quickly the churches have been able to raise money. “I know budgets are already tight...but somehow this money has been coming in. It’s really a God-thing,” she added. “We’re just doing our best to stand back and see Him work.”

A lot of prayer and planning has gone into making this event a reality; and committee members have faith that God will provide the necessary funds and man-power.

Already, over $14,000 has been pledged (thanks to donations from individuals, service groups and businesses); and Central Lakes College has donated the space for the event, as well as getting students, staff and faculty on board to help.

Having CLC provide the space was a huge answer to prayer, Rynell said. She (and the other committee members) have faith that the rest of it will work out as well.

“We need to keep God at the top, then the starving children; and then ourselves,” said Dr. Ted Lelwica, an event coordinator and prayer leader at a planning meeting Jan. 11, at Sacred Heart Church in Staples. “We’re just here to do what God has asked us to do.”

For the Staples Motley area to host an undertaking like this is an ambitious endeavor, Rynell said. “Most of the MobilePack TM events take place in larger cities. I think the people in charge were surprised to get our call...but they’re excited, too. They have faith - like we do - that this will be a success.”

Although volunteers have been signing up, there are still plenty of shifts available. In particular, slots need to be filled Saturday, Feb. 6, 4 -6 p.m. and 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

“It’s a great chance for family members to do something together...or youth groups and other church groups. We even have a Girl Scout troop that has signed up for one of the two-hour shifts,” Diane said.

Samantha Weyer, an 8th grader at Motley Staples Middle School, has traveled with her church youth group (Staples UMC) to two FMSC events in the past. She’s looking forward to doing it again here in her own hometown.

It’s been a moving experience for her, Samantha said; and she hopes other young people will sign up to help. “They teach you how to pack the food into boxes. It’s not hard to do; and it just takes two hours.”

Ron Murray, Staples, has participated in the FMSC events in the past, having been invited to go with a friend’s family.

“It was an awesome experience,” Ron said. “I really didn’t know what to expect and it was interesting to see how the process worked.”

Ron was impressed, he said, at how well-orchestrated the ministry is.

You learn to work as a team, Ron commented; and a lot is accomplished during the two-hour shifts.

“You truly can make a difference,” Ron said. “Sometimes you might send someone money and you hope that it all goes to what it’s supposed to; but with this, you see firsthand where the funds are going.”

Ron is a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Staples, where he is on the Social Justice committee. “I was drawn to this, because it is a community event; not just something for one denomination to be a part of.”

It’s a huge endeavor; but one he believes is well worth the time and donations of volunteers. “My mother was really involved with social justice issues; and I’m trying to carry on what she did for so many years.”

About Feed My Starving Children: FMSC, a non-profit Christian organization, was founded in 1987.

According to information on their website (www. fmsc.org), the approach is simple: Children and adults hand pack meals formulated especially for starving children; and the meals are shipped to more than 60 countries around the world.

The food mixture was formulated by Minnesota food scientists to address the needs of children suffering from malnourishment.

Each meal costs 17 cents to produce; and consists of rice, soy nuggets, vitamins, minerals, dehydrated vegetables and vegetarian chicken flavoring.

The MobilePack event will be held Saturday, Feb. 6 and Sunday, Feb. 7 at the Staples campus of Central Lakes College (1830 Airport Road, Staples).

Packing sessions, each beginning with a 15-minute overview of FMSC’s work around the world, will take place at the following times:

Saturday, Feb. 6: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.; 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.; 4 - 6 p.m.; 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 7: 9 - 11 a.m.; 12 - 2 p.m.

To volunteer, contact Diane Thomason at 218-894- 0184 or 614-557-6177.

To donate, send check (payable to SM Community Packing Event) to First International Bank (111 4th Street NE, Staples, MN 56479) or donate online at www.fmsc.org/ mobilepack/donate (Event Number: 1002-87).

For more information, contact local pastors or event coordinators, Rynell Schock, 218-894-3796 or Diane Thomason, 218-894- 0184.