Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – The Outreach Program

Hunger is a craving or urgent need for food or a specific nutrient. Food insecure people are those that at some point during the week literally don’t know where their next meal is coming from. Food insecurity affects children deep in urban settings, families in rural Appalachia, elderly people on a limited, fixed income, your neighbor, or your child’s classmate. To find out the food insecurity rate in any community in the U.S., please visit Map the Meal Gap.

Please direct any inquiries to our home office in Union, IA. Our email is office@outreachprogram.org and you can also reach us via phone at 641-486-2550.

Meals are created to last approximately two years. Expiration dates are placed on the bags and boxes during the meal packing event.

Meal preparation is simple and does not require additional ingredients. Most meals are created by boiling water and adding ingredients until water has boiled down and contents are cooked thoroughly. Each bag has preparation instructions and graphics on the back for reference.

Meal packaging events engage people to give back to their community. Volunteers work together in an assembly line to create protein-enriched meals to combat hunger both domestically and internationally.

We would love to partner with you to host a meal packaging event. Please contact our home office in Union, IA, for additional information. Our email is office@outreachprogram.org and you can also reach us via phone at 641-486-2550.

When you arrive, you will be assigned to a packaging team to work together to create meal bags or boxes. Exact duties will differ but may include scooping raw ingredients, weighing meals for accuracy, sealing the meal packs, and boxing the completed meals.

Yes. All volunteers that enter the meal packing area are required to wear hairnets and beard nets as applicable. Volunteers helping with the food handling tasks during the event will also wear gloves so that we maintain a high level of food safety and sanitation.

Of course! Your packaging team will have a team leader to provide hands-on training for you and be available throughout the event for any questions you may have.

Plan to arrive 20 minutes prior to your shift to allow ample time to check-in and complete a sanitation protocol, which will include hand sanitation as well as receiving gloves, a hairnet, and beard net (as applicable).

Relaxed casual clothing and comfortable closed-toe shoes are recommended.

To expedite your volunteer check-in, please bring a completed and signed copy of your Registration, Liability Waiver and Photo Release along with your registration form.

Please remove all jewelry prior to arriving at the event to include rings, bracelets, large necklaces, and earrings. No backpacks, purses/bags, or weapons of any kind are permitted in the packing event. We strongly recommend that you keep all personal items in your car or where you are staying as these items will not be allowed in the meal packaging area. There are no storage areas available for these personal items and we cannot assume liability for loss of any items at/or during the event. Food and drinks are not permitted in the meal packaging area.

Meal packaging is a simple, safe, and fun service event for all ages. Training will be provided on-site and we are able to accommodate any special needs you may have.

Meal packaging events are great for all ages and the event is family friendly.

Meal recipes may contain soy and other food allergens. If you have an allergy, please let us know upon check-in so that we can assign you to a volunteer activity away from the allergen.

If you have been sick, or feel like you may be ill, please stay home. We will all be working in close proximity and while we appreciate your willingness to help, we want to spread the love, not germs..

Depending on your volunteer role, physical requirements differ. For most roles, you will stand for your volunteer shift and complete tasks with your hands (scooping, weighing bags, sealing, etc.). Chairs are available for those unable to stand the entire time. An on-site event coordinator can help you if you have any concerns or need special accommodations.

Meal packaging events are open to everyone. Please let us know upon arrival if you have any special needs or requests so we can do our best to accommodate your needs. We have been able to find a way for almost every person to be a meaningful part of the team, and we will do everything we can to ensure that you have the best volunteer experience of your life.

Meals are most often distributed to local communities through food banks and food pantries. Additional details regarding meal distribution will be available during the event.

A packing team of 10 to 12 volunteers can create about 2,000 meals per hour.