By Krista Snively

Special to The Pilot

Stop Hunger Now is a North Carolina-based, hands-on outreach ministry that ships prepackaged meals to various ministry sites around the world, primarily third world countries, destitute regions of the world, and areas of disaster relief.

This revolutionary Operation Sharehouse program provides life-saving meals to millions of people who suffer from starvation. This volunteer-based program enables churches, other places of worship, schools or other organizations to play a significant role in feeding the world.

On Saturday, Sept. 27, volunteers' from ages 4 to 95 gathered in the auditorium at Penick Village to package high protein, dehydrated meals for use in crisis-burdened areas and in school feeding programs. The rice-soy mixture includes dehydrated vegetables, flavoring and 21 essential vitamins and minerals. These easy-to-store and transport packages of food will be shipped to countries like Haiti, Kenya, Ghana, Honduras, and many more.

Many people came out to package meals at Penick Village, giving their time to help those in need. Entire families, members of local Girl Scout Troops, residents and staff of Penick Village, church members from St. Mary Magdalene's and Emmanuel Episcopal Churches, in addition to local community members could be found helping out this worthwhile cause.

"It was a fun day, and I thought the cause was worthwhile," says Agnes Pruitt, a Penick Village resident. "I wanted to give a little of my time to help the underprivileged countries who will be receiving this food."

Penick Village and the Sandhills Cluster set a goal of packaging at least 50,000 meals during Operation Sharehouse. Each meal costs only $0.20 to prepare.

With approximately 150 volunteers participating, 60,000 meals, 10,000 more than the original goal were prepared during this event to end world hunger.

For more information about how you can help end world hunger, contact Chaplain Patsy Smith at (910) 692-0355 or go to www.stophungernow.org.

Penick Village is the Episcopal retirement community of the Diocese of North Carolina.