More than 600 volunteers from the McLean community participated in a Stop Hunger Now meal-packaging activity last Saturday to help eradicate hunger worldwide. Every time the gong blared at Parents’ Hall at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in McLean, it meant volunteers had packed 1,000 meals. By the end of the day, the gong sounded a remarkable 100 times equaling 100,000 meals.
Stop Hunger Now is an international hunger relief organization that coordinates the distribution of food and other life-saving aid to countries around the world. More than 25,000 people die of hunger-related causes every day, according to the nonprofit organization.
The McLean volunteers comprised an intergenerational mix of the McLean community made up of members of the Rotary Club of McLean and Lutheran Church of the Redeemer as well as students, faculty and administrators from McLean and Langley High Schools. Other volunteers included local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts; veterans from American Legion Post 270; seniors from Vinson Hall Retirement Community; players, coaches and board members from Mclean Little League, members of McLean’s Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints and many other local organizations.
Several community leaders also participated including Del. Barbara Comstock (34th District); Dranesville Supervisor John Foust; Marty Smith, a Fairfax County Public Schools assistant superintendent; Mary Ann Cannon, director of community outreach for Rep. Frank Wolf (VA-10th District); as well as Rotary District 7610 (Northern Virginia) District Governor Ron Marion and past district governor Horace McCormack.
The McLean Stop Hunger Now event collected more than $25,000 to underwrite the 100,000 meals.
