What is hunger and food insecurity?
Hunger and food insecurity impact people of all demographics and are world-wide social challenges. Hunger is a craving or urgent need for food or a specific nutrient. Food insecure people are those that at some point during the week literally don’t know where their next meal is coming from. Either they can’t afford to buy food, or don’t have access to food. It can be children deep in urban settings, families in rural Appalachia, elderly people who are forced to make the decision between buying medicine or food, a neighbor or your child’s classmate. To find out the food insecurity rate in any community in the U.S., please visit Map the Meal Gap.
What is a meal packaging event?
Meal packaging events engage people to give back to their community. Volunteers work together in an assembly line to create protein-enriched meals to combat hunger both domestically and internationally.
What will I be doing as a volunteer?
Please arrive 20 minutes prior to your shift to allow ample time to check-in and complete a sanitation protocol, which will include hand sanitation as well as receiving an apron, a hairnet, and beard net (as applicable). You will then join a packaging team to work together to create meal bags which will be inserted into boxes for distribution. Exact duties will differ but may include scooping raw ingredients, weighing meals for accuracy, sealing the meal packs, and boxing the completed meals.
Do I have to wear a hairnet? Gloves?
Yes! All volunteers that enter the meal packing area are required to wear hairnets and beard nets as applicable. Volunteers helping with the food handling tasks during the event will also wear gloves so that we maintain a high level of food safety and sanitation.
Will I be trained?
Of course! Your packaging team will have a team leader to provide hands-on training for you and be available throughout the event for any questions you may have.
Is there anything I should do to be prepared?
Food safety and sanitization is vital. Please remove all jewelry prior to arriving at the event to include rings, bracelets, large necklaces, and earrings. If you have been sick, or feel like you may be ill, please let us know upon check-in so we can place you at a volunteer activity that is non-food handling.
What should I wear?
Relaxed casual clothing and closed-toe shoes are recommended.
Is it difficult? Safe? Fun?
Meal packaging is simple, safe and fun service event for all ages. Training will be provided on-site and we are able to accommodate any special needs you may have.
Are there age restrictions?
Meal packaging events are great for all ages and the event is family friendly.
What if I have allergies?
Meal recipes may contain soy and other food allergens. If you have an allergy, please let us know upon check-in so that we can assign you to a volunteer activity away from the allergen.
Are there physical requirements for volunteering?
Depending on your volunteer role, physical requirements differ. For most roles, you will stand for your volunteer shift and complete tasks with your hands (scooping, weighing bags, sealing, etc.). Chairs are available for those unable to stand the entire time. An on-site event coordinator can help you if you have any concerns or need special accommodations.
What if I have a disability?
Meal packaging events are open to everyone. Please let us know upon arrival if you have any special needs or requests so we can do our best to accommodate.
Are the meals nutritious? Peanut-free? Gluten-free?
A recent study completed by the Iowa State University determined that The Outreach Program’s meals are five times more nutritious as their store brand counterparts. Each of the meals contains more than 21 essential vitamins and minerals as well as at least 7 grams of protein per serving. All meals are peanut free. The beans & rice meal and oatmeal meal are also gluten-free.
What’s the shelf life of a meal?
Meals are created to last approximately two years. Expiration dates are placed on the bags and boxes during the meal packing event.
Where are the meals going?
Meals are distributed to local communities through food banks and food pantries. Additional details regarding meal distribution will be available during the event.
How many meals can you package in an hour?
A packing team of 10 to 12 volunteers can create about 2,500 meals per hour.
How many meals are in a box?
Six servings (meals) per bag
36 bags per box
216 meals per box
How are the meals prepared?
Meal preparation is simple and does not require additional ingredients. Most meals are created by boiling water and adding ingredients until water has boiled down and contents are cooked thoroughly. Each bag has preparation instructions in pictures on the back for reference.
How can I host a meal packing event?
We would love to partner with you to host a meal packaging event. Please contact us at [email protected] and you can also reach us via phone at: 708-310-5578.
Hunger and food insecurity impact people of all demographics and are world-wide social challenges. Hunger is a craving or urgent need for food or a specific nutrient. Food insecure people are those that at some point during the week literally don’t know where their next meal is coming from. Either they can’t afford to buy food, or don’t have access to food. It can be children deep in urban settings, families in rural Appalachia, elderly people who are forced to make the decision between buying medicine or food, a neighbor or your child’s classmate. To find out the food insecurity rate in any community in the U.S., please visit Map the Meal Gap.
What is a meal packaging event?
Meal packaging events engage people to give back to their community. Volunteers work together in an assembly line to create protein-enriched meals to combat hunger both domestically and internationally.
What will I be doing as a volunteer?
Please arrive 20 minutes prior to your shift to allow ample time to check-in and complete a sanitation protocol, which will include hand sanitation as well as receiving an apron, a hairnet, and beard net (as applicable). You will then join a packaging team to work together to create meal bags which will be inserted into boxes for distribution. Exact duties will differ but may include scooping raw ingredients, weighing meals for accuracy, sealing the meal packs, and boxing the completed meals.
Do I have to wear a hairnet? Gloves?
Yes! All volunteers that enter the meal packing area are required to wear hairnets and beard nets as applicable. Volunteers helping with the food handling tasks during the event will also wear gloves so that we maintain a high level of food safety and sanitation.
Will I be trained?
Of course! Your packaging team will have a team leader to provide hands-on training for you and be available throughout the event for any questions you may have.
Is there anything I should do to be prepared?
Food safety and sanitization is vital. Please remove all jewelry prior to arriving at the event to include rings, bracelets, large necklaces, and earrings. If you have been sick, or feel like you may be ill, please let us know upon check-in so we can place you at a volunteer activity that is non-food handling.
What should I wear?
Relaxed casual clothing and closed-toe shoes are recommended.
Is it difficult? Safe? Fun?
Meal packaging is simple, safe and fun service event for all ages. Training will be provided on-site and we are able to accommodate any special needs you may have.
Are there age restrictions?
Meal packaging events are great for all ages and the event is family friendly.
What if I have allergies?
Meal recipes may contain soy and other food allergens. If you have an allergy, please let us know upon check-in so that we can assign you to a volunteer activity away from the allergen.
Are there physical requirements for volunteering?
Depending on your volunteer role, physical requirements differ. For most roles, you will stand for your volunteer shift and complete tasks with your hands (scooping, weighing bags, sealing, etc.). Chairs are available for those unable to stand the entire time. An on-site event coordinator can help you if you have any concerns or need special accommodations.
What if I have a disability?
Meal packaging events are open to everyone. Please let us know upon arrival if you have any special needs or requests so we can do our best to accommodate.
Are the meals nutritious? Peanut-free? Gluten-free?
A recent study completed by the Iowa State University determined that The Outreach Program’s meals are five times more nutritious as their store brand counterparts. Each of the meals contains more than 21 essential vitamins and minerals as well as at least 7 grams of protein per serving. All meals are peanut free. The beans & rice meal and oatmeal meal are also gluten-free.
What’s the shelf life of a meal?
Meals are created to last approximately two years. Expiration dates are placed on the bags and boxes during the meal packing event.
Where are the meals going?
Meals are distributed to local communities through food banks and food pantries. Additional details regarding meal distribution will be available during the event.
How many meals can you package in an hour?
A packing team of 10 to 12 volunteers can create about 2,500 meals per hour.
How many meals are in a box?
Six servings (meals) per bag
36 bags per box
216 meals per box
How are the meals prepared?
Meal preparation is simple and does not require additional ingredients. Most meals are created by boiling water and adding ingredients until water has boiled down and contents are cooked thoroughly. Each bag has preparation instructions in pictures on the back for reference.
How can I host a meal packing event?
We would love to partner with you to host a meal packaging event. Please contact us at [email protected] and you can also reach us via phone at: 708-310-5578.
