After its last successful Stop Hunger Now event, the Sandhills Rotary Club is already planning for 2010.

"On Saturday, March 13, we plan to pack 60,000 meals for people all over the world who do not have enough to eat," says Dan Askins, who is heading up the project for the club. "Tragically 25,000 people die every day due to hunger and hunger-related illnesses. That means a population the size of Moore County disappears every three to four days. Hunger is a huge problem, but it's not impossible to defeat."

Forty thousand meals were packed in one day during the last event.

"We need 450 volunteers and $15,000 to realize our goal of giving 60,000 people something nutritious to eat, all at 25 cents a meal," Askins says.

Many local schools, churches and civic groups, including Sandhills Community College, volunteer their time.

Packaging will be done at the SCC Dempsey Center. Volunteers are needed from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"Two-hour shifts are available, but volunteers can stay as long as they like," says Askins. "In addition to helping people all over the world, we will be helping people right here in Moore County. We are asking all our volunteers to bring canned goods with them to the Stop Hunger Now event on March 13. Our goal is to fill a tractor-trailer for Moore County residents who need help. All the collected canned goods will go to the Sandhills Coalition."

For information about taking part, call Askins at (910) 215-8150, extension 234, (910) 528-7003 or (910) 235-0727.