Youth News
FFA Organization Launches Million-Meal Rally to Fight Hunger
Mon, 22 Oct 2012 15:19:10 CDT
FFA members from all 50 states will take the first swing Wednesday of a long-term fight to help eliminate global hunger.
As a kickoff event of the 2012 National FFA Convention & Expo, more than 10,000 FFA members, teachers, alumni and volunteers will work hour-long shifts from Wednesday through Friday and pack meals during the "Rally to Fight Hunger." The rally kicks off at 12:45 p.m. with public remarks at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Their collective goal: Create 1 million meals by Friday night. Half will be distributed in the Indianapolis area and half will be shipped overseas in coordination with Kids Against Hunger, a humanitarian food-aid organization.
"No one is better positioned to address hunger than FFA members who are tomorrow's leaders who will provide food and nutrition for a growing planet," said National FFA Organization CEO Dwight Armstrong. "Hunger is the right issue for FFA and it is fully aligned with our values and vision. What FFA members learn in Indianapolis at our rally will prepare them to continue fighting hunger in more than 7,500 local communities - and beyond where relief and solutions are desperately needed."
The rally will kick off the National FFA Organization's global "Feeding the World-Starting at Home" initiative, a movement to help students understand the issues and effects of global hunger.
In support of the new initiative, on Thursday 35,640 pounds of chili with beans donated by Hormel Foods and more than 30,000 pounds of fresh turkey donated by Tyson Foods will be delivered to Gleaners Food Bank, 3737 Waldemere Ave., in Indianapolis. Hormel and Tyson have been corporate sponsors of FFA for 39 and 37 years, respectively.
"Feeding the World-Starting at Home" is sponsored in part by Farmers Feeding the World through the National FFA Foundation.
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