Volunteers help prepare rice meals at Trinity United Methodist Church on July 20.
On July 20, Trinity United Methodist Church members and friends prepared almost 2,000 rice meals which were sent on to Midwest Mission Distribution Center in Pawnee, Illinois.
This is the third year Mount Gilead Trinity has prepared rice meals. In past years, the meals went to Ukraine. This year the destination of the meals was unknown until mission committee member Joan Myers got news from Midwest Mission after the day of preparation.
Midwest Mission reported that Jamaica was in most immediate need after a hurricane swept through the island July 3, destroying homes, businesses and farms. Myers said Trinity’s rice meals were likely 2,000 of the 2,400 meals Midwest sent to Jamaica on July 27.
Project organizer Christy Egler said each rice meal bag feeds about six people. The meals, packed by Trinity, will feed about 12,000. Trinity paid $4,000 for the ingredients of the rice meal kits, which include rice and packets of protein, vitamins, and dried vegetables for a balanced diet.
Project leaders said about 30 Trinity members and friends, ranging from 6 to over 90 years old worked in three, two-hour shifts to complete the project. They were able to finish in about five hours by working efficiently in assembly line fashion.
Ingredients and supplies for the meals along with gloves, tape, and other supplies for assembling meal kits are all from the Midwest Mission Distribution Center in Illinois. Midwest staff brought a trailer with the ingredients for the kits and supplies to Mount Gilead and returned with the assembled kits.
The first year for the project was in 2022 when Trinity assembled 1,000 kits for Ukraine, in 2023 they sent 1,240 kits to Ukraine, and this year the goal was 2,000. The total packed was 1,993, just seven short of the goal. That was because the amount of ingredients sent was just lacking enough for 2,000.
“The rice meal bags we packed equates to 11,958 meals that will reach those in need,” Egler said as she thanked all who pitched in to support the mission project.
Trinity member Teresa Walsh stayed through almost three shifts until the project was completed. She said the best part is not only knowing you will be helping people in need, but it was also a good time to have a talk with other Trinity members about what is going on in their lives.
Making their way to Midwest Mission along with the rice meals were donations made by the Trinity Sewing Group. They loaded boxes with the following items: 245 kimonos, 260 diapers, 213 dresses, 81 sweaters and 173 school bags.
Myers said Midwest Missions responds by sending resources to many disasters such as flooding, fires and hurricanes. They often partner with other disaster relief organizations. More information about Midwest Missions can be found on its website at www.midwestmission.org.
Alberta Stojkovic is a correspondent for The Morrow County Sentinel. She can be reached at [email protected].
