Tragically, 25,000 people die every day due to hunger and hunger-related illnesses. This is equivalent to the population of Moore County disappearing every three to four days. Hunger is a huge problem, but it's not impossible to defeat.

On Saturday, March 14, in the Sandhills Community College Dempsey Student Center, a major Stop Hunger Now event will be held. The goal is to pack 100,000 meals for people all over the world who do not have enough to eat.

Stop Hunger Now is an international hunger relief organization that coordinates the distribution of food and other life-saving aid around the world. The organization is driven by a vision to end world hunger in our lifetime and a mission to provide food and life-saving aid to the world's most destitute and hungry in the most sustainable, efficient and effective manner.

Stop Hunger Now's Operation Sharehouse program is a volunteer-based effort through which participants package high protein, dehydrated meals for use in crisis situations and which provides a highly nutritious meal to support school feeding programs in schools and orphanages around the world.

"Last year we packed 25,000 meals in one morning," says Dan Askins, president-elect of the Sandhills Rotary Club. "We need 450 volunteers and $25,000 to realize our goal of giving 100,000 people a nutritious meal, all at 25 cents a meal."

Faculty, staff, and students from the college will be joined by local school students, church groups, and civic groups to package meals. Student groups at Sandhills as well as area K-12 schools have been holding fundraisers to support the event as well as signing up individuals to come to the college and package meals on March 14.

"We will need volunteers from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.," Askins says. "Two-hour shifts are available, but individuals can stay as long as they like. If you or your group are unable to attend and package food, your financial support is dearly welcome."

For more information on contributing or participating contact Dan Askins at Dan@DanAskins.com or 528-7003.