Gina Lemons, Samantha Amador and Brenda Peterson of Blackburn, Childers & Steagall stayed busy during their volunteer shift.
Volunteers from Johnson City Heating and Air, which packed the most boxes, included Angela Lay, Austin Hughes, Kellie Ritsko, Peggy Lanzon, Ed Ritsko, Tim Ricker, TJ Laney and (holding sign) Ella Grace Ritsko. Photos by Dutch Lloyd
By Carrie Gunning
Hunger to Hope is a satellite of Kids Against Hunger located in Johnson City. Kids Against Hunger launched a national campaign to bring communities together for a common good – to feed the hungry.
The Johnson City based satellite, KAH – Hunger to Hope, was selected as the city in the South. The overall goal for Kids Against Hunger during this campaign is to pack one million meals.
During the week of October 10-15, KAH – Hunger to Hope ran a week long food packing event inviting the community to be a part of helping to pack 100,000 meals that would go to parts of Haiti hit by Hurricane Matthew. The event was held at Boones Creek Christian Church.
The community came out in force. Local businesses, sports teams, churches, scouts and families put together teams and came during the week to pack food. Local business owner, Ed Ritsko, of Johnson City Heating and Air, brought his entire crew out every morning prior to going to the work site. By week’s end, Johnson City Heating and Air’s team had packed over 10,000 meals!
There were other businesses that packed food to help reach the 100,000 meal goal. These included Blackburn, Childers & Steagall, StockPot, Johnson City Power Board, Eastman, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, JCMC Pharmacy, United Healthcare Choices, Youth Villages, and ETSU.
Daniel Boone High School had representatives from their Student Council and the boys and girls Cross Country Track Teams. Brother’s Keeper (a program designed to educate adults with intellectual disabilities) packed food daily. Southside Christian Church and Blue Springs Christian Church from Elizabethton came with teams. Boones Creek Christian Church added eight teams for a total of 27 teams, with 471 volunteers coming together in one community to make a difference in another part of the world.
By days end on Saturday, October 15th the 100,000-meal goal had been reached. The meals will be going to those in Haiti that are in dire need because a community came together.
For information on how your group or organization can help feed the hungry, or to make a donation, contact Carrie Gunning by calling (423) 282-0248 or email carriegunning@boonescreekcc.org.
Kids Against Hunger – Hunger to Hope is helping to “feed families around the world…and around the corner.”
