Kids Against Hunger® – Twin Cities South Metro Rotating Header Image

Million Meals Packathon FAQ

What is the Million Meals Packathon?

The Bloomington Million Meals Packathon is a series of four packing events throughout the year. In each event 350-400 people will come to pack 250,000 meals over two days. Through these events a total of one million meals will be packaged to feed starving children–enough to feed over 2,700 children for an entire year!

Who is Kids Against Hunger?

The mission of Kids Against Hunger, a humanitarian food-aid organization, is to significantly reduce the number of hungry children in the USA and to feed starving children throughout the world. Kids Against Hunger is not affiliated with or restricted to a particular religious group and does not discriminate on any basis when distributing its meals. Some of the organization’s volunteers and affiliates are driven by their love of God and helping to feed all of His children, but all religions and non-religious groups are welcome to volunteer, donate, and help in any way.

For more information on Kids Against Hunger go to www.kidsagainsthunger.org.

What is in the food?

Kids Against Hunger’s meals have been formulated by food scientists to provide a rich source of easily digestible protein, carbohydrates, and vitamins needed by a malnourished child’s body and mind. The food also accommodates to the broad diversity of ethnic tastes and religious differences around the world.

Kids Against Hunger’s meals offer all nine of the essential amino acids required for complete nutrition – something that can’t be said about other typical food relief sources such as rice or beans alone.

The beauty of the food formulation is its simplicity. It is made from four readily available, dry ingredients that are easy to package, keep for long periods, and require only boiling with water to prepare. Despite the simplicity of the food’s content, it is a nutritionally complex and well balanced meal.

Where is the food going?

The food is going to Haiti to be distributed to the schools supported by Lifeline Haiti.

Who is Lifeline Haiti?

In 2007, Pastor Bob Davisson started Lifeline Haiti after visiting Haiti in 2005. While in Haiti, Pastor Bob was filled with overwhelming compassion for these children and a desire to assist the children to receive a hot meal each day and have access to an education. The 2009/2010 school year will have 26 schools in 19 locations with 4500 students. The school not only fills the stomach, but also fills the souls as all the school are Christian schools were many of the children have come to know and love God. For more information on Lifeline Haiti go to www.lifelinehaiti.com

How should I collect the donations?

Please collect donations as you are speaking to your friends/family, etc. If you are mailing a fundraising letter to someone, you can include one of the enclosed self-addressed return envelopes and they can mail the donation directly to the church using this envelope.

How should I turn the money in once I get it?

Donations should be turned into the church right away after it has been collected. Please do not hang onto checks/money. Turn them in as you receive them. They can be mailed to the church in the enclosed self-addressed envelopes or placed in the weekend offering. In either case, please mark the payments “KAH Million Meal Pack-a-thon” so they are allocated to the correct account.

Who should checks be made out to?

Please have all checks made out to “Evergreen Community Church” and put “KAH” in the memo portion of the check.

Are the donations tax deductible?

Yes. As long as the check is made out to Evergreen Community Church.

Is there a benefit to businesses that give to Kids Against Hunger?

Yes, your contribution is recognized by the IRS as a charitable contribution and is a tax deductible expense. These donations can reduce your taxable income and lower your tax bill. “You may deduct charitable contributions of money or property made to qualified organizations if you itemize your deductions” (IRS Publication 78). The business will receive a charitable contribution tax statement for itemized deductions at the end of the year.

How do I keep track of how much money I raise?

Each person is responsible for tracking their own individual support. Records will not be kept at the church office.

Can cash be given?

Yes. However, if you would like a tax deductible receipt please enclose a note with your name and address with your gift.

When are the Pack-a-Thon events?

The first Pack-a-Thon event will be February 20th and 27th, 2010. To register for the event go to our volunteer page and select one of the February 20th or 27th sessions.

How old does my child need to be to participate?

Your child should be in at least 2nd grade to participate in the pack-a-thon. (This is different than the normal age requirement given in our main FAQ.)