Stop Hunger Now: Helping Uganda one meal packet at a time

By Jessica Brodie

Hundreds of meal-packers gathered during Annual Conference for a massive conference effort to fight back against hunger.

Donning gloves, hairnets and a passion for hunger relief, the volunteers packed 285,000 meals, which have been sent to Uganda courtesy of international hunger-relief organization Stop Hunger Now.

Organizer Chris Lynch called the effort a success.

South Carolina Resident Bishop Jonathan Holston and his Cabinet have each made personal offerings for Stop Hunger Now. Each district superintendent has also personally challenged the clergy in their districts to take up an offering to support the effort.

Funds are still needed to complete the project; as of press time, the conference had brought in more than $69,000 of the $86,000 needed to cover the cost of the meal-packing. Any funds raised beyond the $86,000 will go toward both hunger and children in poverty ministries across the conference and shared equally among the 12 districts.

To donate, visit www.umcsc.org and click on the “Stop Hunger Now” box at top right. Donations should be submitted by the end of June.

A moving song written and performed by Dr. Paul Harmon during Annual Conference, “Come to the Table,” is now available for download, with all proceeds going to help the Stop Hunger Now effort.

The Tuesday night service celebrating the meal-packing took up an offering, with $19,205 going to benefit the effort.