By Ron Marasco
rmarasco@myabc5.com
@ron _marasco
Picture this: 1,200 high schoolers in one room screaming and having a good time. And believe it or not, it was for volunteer work.
Singing and dancing to Fun and Sweet Caroline, a pep rally fired-up Metro high schoolers right before they planned to take a bite out of hunger.
Meals from the Heartland kicked off their sixth annual hunger fight, believed to be the largest effort of its kind.
"Without the spirit of volunteerism here in Central Iowa, and throughout Iowa, and without the generosity of the Iowa people, this wouldn't happen," said Dave Bradley, Executive Director for Meals for the Heartland.
Meals from the Heartland packaged nearly 900,000 meals earlier Wednesday and they expected the high schoolers to put together nearly a half million more in the evening.
"It's really fantastic to think we've got 1,200 high school students, giving up their time to come and help on this really monumental challenge," said Jeff Austin, a V.P. at Pioneer DuPont, who sponsored the high school challenge.
The organization set a goal of packaging a record five million meal packets over the next four days. Each packet costs a buck twenty and serves a family of six.
"When you see people that are hungry, you know that you have to do something to help them," said Valley Senior Amber Aeilts.
"I think the greatest thing is that kids from all over the Metro are coming together to reach one common goal, so that's pretty amazing," said Waukee High School Senior Sydni Rowen.
Vitamin powder, dried vegetables, soy, and rice make up each packet. They help to feed people not only here in Iowa, but several countries around the world.
"It's just the best feeling in the world that you've been able to help because of what you did throughout the year and here tonight that some kid gets to go to bed and have food in their stomach," said Valley senior Abigail Austin.
Organizers expect more than 15,000 volunteers from now until Saturday to help package the meals. They're still looking for more. However, they ask that volunteers pre–register first on their website. Here's the link.
