Helping Hands

It was good that I was in Tallahassee for that week because I was organizing the Helping Hands Event at our church that was taking place Nov 19, two days after I got home.  I was able to finish last minute preparations without interruption while Chloe was in school.

We had about 160 volunteers split between 2 sessions that came together to package food for citizens in Burkino Faso, Africa.  It is by far the most rewarding event I have participated in.

The core team arrived between 7:15 and 8:00 depending on the duties.  We had to be sure the hall was set up with all the supplies before the participants arrived.

The truck is unloaded and the participants are arriving.

This activity prepared the participants so they could connect with the people we are serving overseas.

They were encouraged to write a prayer to them and to also reflect on which station impacted them the most.

By the end of the second session our prayer offerings were overflowing.

We had a briefing on what Catholic Relief Services (CRS) does to give a "helping hand" which includes teaching them how to farm the difficult land in which they live as well as provide them with the supplies to do so. This also includes educating them and teaching them trades to earn their living.

We moved into the packaging area so they could receive instructions as to how to properly package the meals.

Stephanie from Stop Hunger Now kept the ball rolling.

(This organization partners with CRS as well as other organizations to stop global hunger).

It was wonderful to see so many families working together!

Even children as young as 3 had a job to do!

Each time we reached 1,000 meals, someone banged the gong.
Energy filled the air. Once 10,000 meals were packaged, the session ended.

Even Chloe helped.  She let me use her hands to make the hand prints for the signs!

We repeated the same process for the second session.

Clif was a HUGE help.  He originally came to help us only to unload the truck.  As soon as he realized how big of an endeavor this was, he decided to stay and help all day.  Stephanie was most appreciative because she said she never had a volunteer who knew how to load and unload a truck.  At the end of the event, she usually has to secure the load.  Only today, it was already secured thanks to Clif!  Job well done. 😅

Just over 20,000 meals were packaged and are now on their way to Burkino Faso, Africa!

Thank you Lord for the Blessings you give us.  We in turn can pass the Blessings along. 😇