Remembering Our Amazing 2023 Event
It all began before the sun came up on Saturday, November 4, 2023. Well, honestly, it started at 6 pm the evening before when Fellowship Hall at St. Matthew Lutheran Church was cleared out and readied for the onslaught to come in the morning.
The sea container from Rise Against Hunger arrived on Friday, November 3, soon followed by all the equipment and ingredients needed for the event. Those arrived on Friday as well, ready for the dozens of volunteers who pitched in starting before the sun came up on Saturday to off load the trucks, haul what was needed on to the packing floor, carefully set-up the room and stock each area with everything that was needed for the Funnel Stations, the Weighing and Sealing Tables, and the Packing and Boxing Areas.
Then, shortly after 8 am, the Packing Volunteers began to arrive, the line stretching back from the Registration Area to the doors of the building. The turnout was amazing — before the end of the day of Sunday, over 750 volunteers by last count.
By 10 am on Day 1 a Proclamation from the Mayor of Hanover was read proclaiming that "Rise Against Hunger in Hanover Day" had arrived. After some instructions, the music started blaring and the packing began in earnest. Funnels were filled, bags were collected, and run to the weighing and sealing stations before they were counted, boxed and carried by forklift to sea container awaiting outside.
The first session ended by 11 am and the room was straightened up before the second wave began at noon, followed hours later by the third shift. By the end of Day 1, over 130,000 meals had been packed, boxed and loaded. All was ready for Day 2, which began around noon on Sunday with the fourth and final shift. By 4 pm the sea container was full with over 200,000 meals. Fellowship Hall looked as if nothing had ever happened there.
But anyone who was there knew that something HAD happened. Something amazing. Something BIG. Something unforgettable.
Early Monday morning, the cab arrived, the container was attached and began its journey to the Port of New York where it would be loaded on to a cargo ship to begin its voyage to the Philippines to feed those who needed it most.
Yes, something amazing had happened. Something that will happen again at our next event in 2025.
Who knows what can be accomplished by then? Time to start planning now. One thing is for sure — there is room for YOU!
