Catholic youth help prepare 200,000 meals for others

Friday, Feb. 27, 2015

SALT LAKE CITY — According to UNICEF, approximately 6,200 children die every day in the world due to hunger and hunger-related diseases.

On Feb. 21, hundreds of volunteers gathered at the Gateway in Salt Lake City to put together food packages in a humanitarian effort titled “Kids Feeding Kids,” working with Feed My Starving Children, a non-profit Christian organization.

At the event many young people from the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City were present.

“The youth and young adults participated in this activity so that we could put our Catholic faith into action, practice one of the corporal works of mercy, and be united in service to others,” said Samantha Almanza, director of the diocese’s Youth and Young Adult Ministry.

Participants from St. Olaf, St. Andrew, St. Ann, St. Francis of Assisi and Our Lady of Guadalupe parishes, as well as Judge Memorial and Juan Diego Catholic high schools, were among the young people who put together more than 200,000 meals for the kids in need. Each package contained rice, soy protein, dehydrated vegetables and a vitamin powder that helps with the absorption of all of the nutrients.

Almanza said that the participation of the Catholic youth was very meaningful because “it’s important to get involved with projects like this so that we can encounter and serve others who are not as fortunate as us.” 

José Luis and Sofía Palestino of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish were at the event with more than a dozen young people from the parish.

“We wanted to be here today so our young people can see that there is a world different than what they are used to,” said Sofia Palestino, adding that she and her husband expected that with that experience the young people were going to learn to value what they have.

“We need to teach them to value. … As we were packing the meals I was very touched because we realized first hand that that small package might be the only meal that a kid might have in days,” said José Luis Palestino.

Giovanna Murillo, one of the youth from Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, said that participating in the activity was very important for her because she was doing good for others.

“It’s nice to know that we are saving lives of other little kids,” said Murillo.

The meals packaged that day will be shipped to a variety of different countries and will feed about 500 kids one meal each day for a year.

Feed My Starving Children is a non-profit Christian organization committed to feeding God’s children hungry in body and spirit. The approach is simple: children and adults hand-pack meals specifically formulated for malnourished children.

The next activity for the young adults from the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City will be serving at the  Saint Vincent de Paul soup kitchen on Tuesday, May 12 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. For information, contact Samantha Almanza, 801-328-8641 ext. 313 or Samantha.almanza@dioslc.org.