On Saturday morning, the Fellowship Hall and the sanctuary of St. Armands Key Lutheran Church filled with volunteers in hairnets and gloves, standing shoulder to shoulder along long tables. Their task was simple to say and heavy to carry: pack meals for families who would otherwise go hungry.<\/p>\n
They set a goal of 50,000 meals for Kids Against Hunger Florida \u2014 more than double last year\u2019s total. By the time the boxes were stacked, they had passed it. Measured in children\u2019s servings, the morning\u2019s work came to 100,000 meals.<\/p>\n
The food went to named neighbours: Helping Hand in Englewood; Second Chance Last Opportunity, Harvest House and Schoolhouse Link in Sarasota; and Feeding Empty Little Tummies in Bradenton. Some boxes were set aside for Haiti, where many families still face gang violence.<\/p>\n
Todd Clevenger, founder and executive director of the nonprofit, said each packet can feed a family of six and keeps for three years. \u201cThat\u2019s why I do it,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s awesome to see.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gayle Galloway, who chairs the church\u2019s Community Service Ministry, said the need close to home surprises people. For five autumns, the congregation has shown up to meet it \u2014 a quiet, practical expression of love for neighbours near and far.<\/p>\n
No one in that hall could feed a hundred thousand people alone. Together, they finished before lunch. Somewhere this week, a family will sit down to supper because a stranger gave up a Saturday morning.<\/p>\n