Eureka Boy Scouts Help Fight World Hunger

Eureka Boy Scouts from Troop 322 teamed up with other youth and families from on Saturday to package meals to feed starving children around the world. In the 2-hour shift, the group assembled and packaged 26,000 meals, which is enough food to support 67 children for one year. 

The three-day mobile packing event was sponsored by "Feed My Starving Children," and was hosted at Good Sheppard Lutheran Church in Manchester. Feed My Starving Children is a program headquartered in Minnesota.

This was a first-time experience for most of the scouts. Most said they were expecting to be packing already prepared, dehydrated foods that would resemble something they might be served for a family meal. Instead they measured and assembled "Manna Packs" that consisted of fortified chicken flavoring, dehydrated vegetables, soy protein and universal food rice.   

Next month, the scouts participate in Scouting For Food, which is the largest one-day food collection project in the area. The boys strive to collect enough food to stock depleted local food pantry's shelves.   

For the boys that participate in both events, it gives a unique perspective on reaching out to those that need help. 

Scout Ethan Gyori said, "Throughout history there have always been people that struggle for food. It is important for us to do what we can. Whether we are helping those we will never meet, or those that are sitting right next to us in school."   

"It is strange to think of people in our community starving. I can understand why those who live in countries that have been hit by natural disasters or experience political unrest struggle. I'm just glad there is an opportunity to help," said scout Zach Hawkins.