Volunteers from eight local Rotary clubs, representing Carpinteria, Goleta, Montecito, and Santa Barbara, joined with Rise Against Hunger to help combat global food insecurity.
During the one-day event on Nov. 1 at the Goleta Valley Community Center, 90 Rotarians and their guests worked together to package 15,336 nutritious meals for families in need around the world.
The project was led by Oscar Zavala of the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise and supported through collaboration and funding from South Coast Rotary clubs. Rotary District governor Mike Dutra and his wife Cindy attended the event, joining volunteers in the hands-on effort.
“This is such a productive and satisfying event,” Zavala said. “Because Rotarians are willing to roll up their sleeves and do the work, the families who receive these meals can worry less about feeding their children.”
Rotary District governor Mike Dutra and his wife Cindy attended the event, joining volunteers in the hands-on effort.
Working in teams, volunteers combined rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables, and a packet of 18 essential vitamins and minerals to create shelf-stable meals that are easy to store, transport and prepare.
Each package helps meet the immediate nutritional needs of people facing hunger, paving the way toward healthier, more resilient communities and brighter futures.
As the meal packets were weighted, counted, boxed and added to the pallet, the volunteers celebrated each 1,000-meal milestone with a shout across the busy auditorium and the ring of a gong.