Rotary Thanks Bedford for Supporting Pay it Forward Meal Packaging Event

Submitted by Peter Colgan for the Rotary Club of Bedford

The Rotary Club of Bedford wishes to thank all who came to Middlesex Community College to help package meals for distribution to school feeding programs in countries like Haiti.

In all, 250 volunteers came together at Middlesex Community College to package 48,000 meals on Saturday, April 25^th.  The event was made possible by generous support from principal supporters BAE Systems and the Bedford Rotary.  Significant financial support also came from Next Step Living, ServePro, Covanta, Robert and Carolyn Cassidy, Middlesex Community College, Linda and Frank Cargiuolo, Ken’s NY Deli and Flatbread.  Each meal packaged cost 29 cents, and over $14,000 was raised to fund the event.

Stop Hunger Now provided the materials and food distribution resources.  Marc Vermouth, Director of Stop Hunger Now’s efforts in New England, told participants that the meal programs they provide help break the cycle of poverty for meal recipients through education, skills development and health care, while they also receive much-needed nutrition.  The majority of meals packaged at events like this one go to support school feeding, vocational training, early childhood development programs, as well as to orphanages and medical clinics.

Many volunteers also brought food donations for the Bedford Community Table and Food pantry to help fight hunger locally.  The Bedford Rotary has committed to donate $1,000 to the food pantry when it receives 1,000 “Likes” for the Club’s Facebook Page.

Click the thumbnails below to see the larger images

Rotarians gathered on Friday night to set up the meal packing stations at Middlesex Community College – Courtesy images