St. Armands Key Lutheran Church packs 30,000 meals for Kids Against Hunger

St. Armands Key Lutheran Church on April 27 hosted over 100 volunteers to pack 30,000 meals for Kids Against Hunger during its second annual meal-packing event.

Karyn Hawksley is the chair of community service at St. Armands Key Lutheran Church and organized the event.

Along with members of the church, 100 people from communities in the area signed up to volunteer such as the Lido Shores Property Owners Association, Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties and Second Chance Last Opportunity. Volunteers could also show up on the day of the event without signing up.

Children from the Boys and Girls Club were assigned as team leaders at tables to give instructions and help anyone who had questions. They received training before the event. This was to help them build leadership and social skills while mingling with Sarasota residents.

April Glasco from Second Chance Last Opportunity was also there to help and take meals directly to people her nonprofit serves immediately after the event. 

Volunteers switched off between packing meals and decorating the boxes that the meals would be delivered in.  

The volunteers packed 30,000 adult meals which provides 60,000 meals for children. The meals will be going to different nonprofits around the area including Second Chance Last Opportunity, Harvest House, All Faiths Food Bank, Feeding Empty Little Tummies, Englewood Food Pantry and Schoolhouse Link.

The event was funded by the St. Armands Key Lutheran Church Foundation, providing $10,000 to purchase the food. 

"Last year, we made 20,000 meals and had to raise the money ourselves," said Hawksley. "So, this year to see how much we have grown with making more meals and having the church's fund support us has made all the difference. Also, working with April and the Boys and Girls Club is just incredible. They had made a great impact on our community and the world."