The Lions Club of Hayward Silicon Valley hosted a meal packing event on Oct. 19, preparing 30,000 meals to help people facing hunger around the world. Over 125 enthusiastic volunteers gathered at the Veterans Memorial Hall in Hayward. The Lions Club purchased bulk ingredients—rice, soy protein, dehydrated vegetables and spices—from Rise Against Hunger, who then brought a truckload directly to the packing location.
Volunteers then worked together at stations for assembly: weighing, sealing, labeling and boxing to create nutritious meal bags. Once the meal boxes were packed and labeled, they were handed over to Rise Against Hunger for delivery to countries facing severe hunger and starvation. Every time a thousand meals were completed, the room erupted in cheers as volunteers struck a gong with a loud, celebratory noise.
Club president Khush Bodhan shared his excitement about the project, stating, “We are thrilled to partner with Rise Against Hunger. This event is tangible proof that when a community comes together, we can make a significant dent in the global fight against hunger.”
One volunteer summed up the feeling of the day: “It’s easy to feel helpless when you see global hunger on the news, but being here, putting my hands on these meal bags, is an instant antidote to that feeling. I’m not just packing food; I’m sending my hope and love across the ocean.”
The successful event shows how the Hayward community is making a real difference in the global fight against hunger, one meal at a time.
