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Assembly Line Volunteers Feed Hungry

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By LAURA CONE

The Sun

Published: February 11, 2009

More than 275 volunteers from the Sun City Center area worked in an assembly line, packaging a fortified rice casserole to help feed the hungry.

With increased demand for assistance during a weak economy, area food banks are short on food. Volunteers in Sun City Center, however, were not short on compassion as they packaged more than 65,000 meals for the Kids Against Hunger campaign.

Organized by the Rotary Club of Sun City Center, the Jan. 31 event at Community Hall brought together volunteers from dozens of different community groups.

Joanne Baskinger of Sun City Center said she also volunteered last year for the charity work.

"We are filling the food bags," Baskinger said. "It's an assembly line. We fill the bags with soy protein, vegetable flavoring and rice. It's a great organization."

Steve Popper, the founder of the Kids Against Hunger of Southwest, Fla., brought the program to Florida one- and one-half years ago. Popper, who is part of the Rotary Club of Naples, transports the packaging equipment and supplies to different packaging events.

"We go all over Florida doing packaging events," he said, adding the program started in Minnesota in 1999.

He said the rice casserole mix includes 21 different vitamins and minerals and six dried vegetables.

"All of this food is staying local in the area," Popper said. "There is a tremendous need. The need for food has skyrocketed. Most community food banks are seeing an 80 percent increase in demand from last year."
Rotarians from Sun City Center received donations from a number of clubs and groups in Sun City Center. But the bulk of the food for the event was sponsored by the Interfaith Council of Sun City Center.

Jim Wilmouth, the president of the Rotary Club of Sun City Center, said the rice casserole packages would be given to area food banks on the premises of Bethel Mission, St. Anne Catholic Church, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Good Samaritan Mission and Calvary Lutheran Church.

"Also, we went to all the churches and most are helping," Wilmouth said. "It's really outstanding."

Editor Laura Cone may be reached at lcone@mediageneral.com.

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