Family Weekend, September 11-13, is going to be a fun-filled weekend for families to come to campus for a visit with your student, enjoy the first home football game and take part in some great events. We are pleased to offer a community service component to the weekend, a chance for your family to spend a couple of hours packing meals  with Friends Against Hunger, a nonprofit organization with the mission to supply food to hungry people.

Meals A Million is an opportunity for you to unite with a group of volunteers to fight hunger locally and worldwide!

Our Meals

Over several packaging sessions, volunteers will work to package one million meals.  There are two meal varieties: enriched rice and bean meals, which are also gluten-free, and enriched macaroni and cheese meals.  Preparation is simple; just add water and boil until the pasta or rice is cooked to make a complete meal. These meals are well-balanced and vegetarian, and they are enriched with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.  They also contain soy to supply protein.

 Meal Distribution

Our meals are distributed throughout the United States and to developing countries internationally.  Previous distributions have included Springfield, Joplin, Branson, and Carthage, as well as Tanzania, Mexico, Haiti, and El Salvador.

Family Weekend Volunteer Time

Volunteer spots are reserved just for you from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30p.m. Register with your student for a two-hour shift at www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0D48ACAF23ABF49-msubear/19475082! (use password: bearsfamilies).  All volunteers must be eleven years or older.

 Volunteers are needed to:

·         Add ingredients to bags|
·         Weigh bags
·         Seal bags
·         Box meals and stack boxes (requires lifting 33 lbs)
·         Refill rice and soy into plastic tubes (requires lifting 50 lbs)

Although most activities require standing for two hours, weighing can be done while sitting down.

We need 4,500 volunteers to package one million meals.  Will you be in the count? #CitizenBear