UK: Students orchestrate major meal donation for Zimbabwe children; 5,000 meals packed

By bromsgrovestandard.co.uk

STUDENTS from a school in Bromsgrove have packed over 5,000 meals to be shipped to children in Zimbabwe, after teaming up with an international campaign.

South Bromsgrove High School pupils packed ingredients such as dried rice, soya, lentils and essential micronutrients to be sent to those in need abroad.

The efforts are led by Feed The Hungry UK as part of their Million Meal Miracle campaign.

Students were also joined by Kidderminster Harriers players, Seb Thompson, Riley Reynolds and Reiss McNally – who lent a hand to support the cause.

In addition, councillor Tracey Onslow, chair of Worcestershire County Council, was also in attendance to get stuck in and support the work.

Carl Arntzen, CEO of Worcester Bosch, also attended the event to see how the companies donation had made a difference.

The scheme, organised in partnership with South Bromsgrove Rotary Club, followed on a few weeks after the students’ visit to the charity headquarters in Coventry where they learned first hand about the positive impact of their work abroad.

The day, which cost £2,000 to host, was funded through the schools own fundraising efforts, along with generous donations from Worcestershire Bosch and South Bromsgrove Rotary Club.

Chris Smith, Rotarian and Headteacher of South Bromsgrove High, said: “I am extremely proud of what the students in the school’s Charity Group have achieved.

“This student-led group raised the necessary funding, planned the event and organised over 80 student volunteers.

“They enjoyed it so much they are already talking about making this an annual event.”

Feed The Hungry UK is an international humanitarian organisation committed to fighting hunger due to poverty, war, famine and natural disasters.

The charity works to reduce world hunger by establishing feeding programmes in 28 different countries worldwide.

Through its Million Meal Miracle campaign, the charity aims to engage 200 schools in meal packing events with a target of packing one million meals in the next two years for school children in Zimbabwe and Somaliland.

Leading the project for Feed The Hungry is Ian Siddall, who said: “The ultimate goal of the project is to nourish and empower school children in Zimbabwe and Somaliland.

“We want to address immediate nutritional needs and instil a sense of significance and value in these young lives – fostering a brighter future for them and the communities they belong to.

With its partner organisations, since 1987, Feed The Hungry have globally assisted in regularly feeding over 625,000 children in 28 countries.

Feed The Hungry also provides disaster relief recovery programmes through its network of community programmes around the globe.

The charity is appealing for more local partners to support its campaign, including schools, churches and businesses.