Whitefish students taking a STAND against world hunger
What is the biggest problem facing our world today? That is one question the members of STAND know the answer to, and they have something in the works to address that exact problem.
Hunger — everyone experiences it on a different scale. Right now, there are more than 50 countries deemed in a “serious or alarming” state of hunger by the International Food Policy Research Institute. STAND wants to change that.
This spring, the Whitefish High School club STAND will host a Kids Against Hunger Event in the WHS gym for part of a school day. This event will give every student and faculty member the opportunity to package food to be distributed anywhere the students choose.
First, they need to raise $10,000 which will be matched by the Send Hope organization based out of Texas and Kids Against Hunger. They hope to raise the full $10,000, but only a minimum of $8,000 is needed for the event to take place.
Bergen Carloss, a member of STAND who has previously participated in a Kids Against Hunger event, said, “The reason we want to raise so much money is because we want the entire community and entire school to be apart of it.”
This event is completely hands-on; students will combine ingredients, seal packages, and load boxes onto a truck which will then take the food to the airport to be shipped off.
What makes this food unique is that it is designed specifically for people on the brink of starvation. Consisting of only four ingredients, the package is loaded with vitamins, nutrients, and nine essential amino acids to help those who need to rebuild their strength. White rice, crushed soy, a blend of dehydrated vegetables, and vitamin and mineral powder are what make this food combination so simple, yet effective. The recipient just has to add boiling water to this nonperishable blend to produce a ready-to-eat meal.
There isn’t just one cause of hunger in the world. Climate change, poverty, and armed conflicts all contribute to this crisis. For instance, this food shipment could potentially aid Syrian refugees who have been displaced from their home and don’t know where their next meal is going to come from. This event has the potential to feed thousands of people worldwide.
STAND will distribute a school-wide poll to students to determine where the food should be sent. This event really is about showing the next generation that they have the power to change the world. As cheesy as that may sound, it’s completely true.
“There are a lot of problems out there, and hunger is a big one.” Carloss and the rest of STAND realize that there are many problems to be solved in the world, but we need to start somewhere.
You can help make this event a reality by donating at https://www.gofundme.com/wcjqpxsc and liking the Facebook page “WHS Stand: Kids Against Hunger Event.”
If you would like to be involved in other ways, please call Bergen Carloss at 270-0918.
— Cassidy Grady is a senior at Whitefish High School