On Oct. 18, over 100 volunteers gathered at Hayward’s Veterans Memorial Hall for a meal packing event benefitting Rise Against Hunger, an international charity combating food insecurity.
Over the course of the day, the group packed over 20,000 meals. To spur on enthusiasm, a coordinator announced every time a thousand meals were completed, triggering a volunteer to step up and strike a ceremonial gong.
Hayward Silicon Valley Lions Club also donated $8,000 to Rise Against Hunger.
Joining the Lions Club were high school students and students of Cal State East Bay (CSUEB).
CSUEB track and field head coach Norman Alston said, “Our student-athletes learn every day about teamwork, discipline and commitment, but stepping out of the gym and into the Veterans Memorial Hall to fight global hunger takes that teamwork to an entirely new level. Seeing our athletes side-by-side with community members sealing these meal packets is a powerful lesson in character, leadership and what it truly means to serve others.”
Meals packaged at the event will be distributed to disaster zones.
