8 Des Moines Metro Rotary Clubs Package Meals for Local Hunger
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Over 250 Rotarians from eight Des Moines Rotary Clubs met to package 50,000 Mac & Cheese Outreach meals for Des Moines area food banks and 
food pantries. They met on July 15 at the Outreach, Inc. warehouse in Des Moines, Iowa.
Janet Phipps, President of the Rotary Club of Des Moines said, “The Rotary Club of Des Moines is pleased to participate in the meal packing event at Outreach. This is a wonderful opportunity to join our fellow Rotary clubs to be a part of addressing the hunger needs of those both locally and abroad. Thank you to Outreach for its mission in providing safe water, food, medical care and education to those in need.”
Kitte Noble, Executive Director of the Rotary Club of Des Moines said, “This is an ideal service event that engages all of our members in a festive way that fosters camaraderie. We get to interact with members from our club as well as other clubs. Most importantly, we practically help the hungry in our community by providing much needed meals.”
Kyle McCormick, organizer of the event for the Rotary Club said, “We had great participation and enthusiasm last year with over 250 people packaging meals. It was so powerful; we wanted to do it again. It’s a great way for younger members of Rotary to mix our work/life balance by engaging our colleagues with simple opportunities to serve others with such positive impact on our community.” Watch a short video interview of Kyle here.
Outreach founder Floyd Hammer said, “The motto of Outreach is: Ending Hunger. Enriching Lives. We work with Rotary clubs all over the U.S. who engage their members and communities in the fight against hunger. These events help Rotary members to help end hunger as well as enriching the lives of the people who package the meals and those who receive them.”
John Ockenfels, Rotary District 6000 Past District Governor said, “Rotary International is a worldwide service organization with 1.2 million members who believe in the motto of ‘Service Above Self.’ The Rotary Club of Des Moines has done a remarkable job in creating a unique opportunity to collaborate with 8 different clubs in their area. These clubs will provide the meals they package to local food banks and pantries who serve the hungry right in their own back yard.”
Walt Githens, long time member of the Rotary Club of Des Moines and currently a member of the International Service Committee, said, “This is our second year of packaging and, with the experience of last year under our belts, we are more excited this year. The power of this event demonstrates the Four Way Test of every Rotarian: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build good will and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”
The Rotary Club of Des Moines and Rotary District 6000 has also been involved in assisting Outreach send over 3 million meals for relief to thePhilippines after Typhoon Haiyan, to Liberia for Ebola patients and their families, and to Nepal for victims of the earthquake.
If you would like to donate to help feed the hungry:
Call Outreach, Inc.: 641-486-2550
Donate on our Website: www.outreachprogram.org
Text OUTREACH to: 641-243-4341
Mail a check to:
Outreach, Inc.
301 Center Street
Union, Iowa 50258
