FMSC’s Hearts for Hope event draws volunteers out on chilly Valentine’s Day
FMSC’s Hearts for Hope event draws volunteers out on chilly Valentine’s Day
COON RAPIDS, MN — More than 75 volunteers came out on a sub-zero night, here, and actually paid for the opportunity to pack specially formulated meals to feed starving children in the world.
The 114 boxes of 24,624 meals packed by the volunteers at this year’s Feed My Starving Children Valentine’s Day Hearts for Hope event will be shipped to the Philippines and will feed 67 children for an entire year.
Lisa Ellis, site supervisor at FMSC, told The Produce News that this is the second year they have done Hearts for Hope and it attracted 10 percent more volunteers than last year. FMSC chose Valentine’s Day for the special packing session because “Feed My Starving Children is all about God’s love for children, on a day that’s all about love,” said Ellis.
With bouquets of multi-colored roses, a sea of red clothing and hairnets, energetic music pumping and Valentine’s Day decorations on the walls, there was a festive, party atmosphere at the two-hour food packing session. Several families volunteered, including Justin and Alyson Wisner and their children, Olivia and Braxton, from Zimmerman, MN, and a 60-mile drive round-trip.
“We honestly don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day, as a couple or as a family, we just celebrate love, like every day,” said Alyson Wisner. “The best way we can spread love is by helping others, and so we decided the most appropriate way, Valentine’s Day or not, is to come here one or twice a month as a family activity.”
Lee Spence, president at Koehler and Dramm Wholesale Florist in Minneapolis, donated all of the roses and said K&D employees volunteer at several packing sessions each year and also support FMSC with monetary donations.
“I have a soft spot for kids, especially [those] in need,” Spence said. “And, to me, it is logical that there is no better way to help them than provide food for them. FMSC does a very good job at that and the vast majority of the money it raises goes directly into feeding kids — to me, that’s important also.”
In addition to the meals, the 2015 Valentine’s Day event raised over $2,500 in donations and FMSC is hoping to expand this yearly special occasion to its other two food-packing centers in the Twin Cites.
After the session was over, each volunteer received a Valentine’s Day rose as they left the building and, even though it was brutally cold outside, volunteer Kathy Jeno thought it was the perfect way to spend the evening.
“I just had a blast the last time I came here and couldn’t wait to come back,” said Jeno. “Valentine’s Day is all about love and what better way to show love than to feed starving children.”
