About a football stadium full of people die of hunger everyday.

Many Hills students became aware of this fact through the Stop Hunger Now program. Thursday March 20, 2014 Pascack Hills hosted a Stop Hunger Now packaging event. Stop Hunger Now is a hunger relief agency that provides meals to poverty and hunger-stricken nations.

Stop Hunger Now is unique in that it uses meals as an incentive to send kids to school. Many children in these regions have to work for their food and do not attend school.

By promising a free hot meal for each student every day, the kids are encouraged by their mothers and their stomachs to get an education. Educating kids is the way to break the cycle of poverty.

Mrs. White (Library Media Specialist, Art History teacher, Interact and NHS advisor) and the Interact club learned about the organization in the fall from Park Ridge Rotary members Michelle Albergo and Bob Bustard.

To get to the point where Hills could host a packing event, Hills needed to raise a minimum of $2,500. The task was introduced to the Interact club, who originally found the idea of raising the sum daunting.

At the time, however, the National Honor Society was organizing the Empty Bowls Fundraiser and decided to put the money collected toward a packaging event. Not long after, Pascack Valley NHS and Peer Leaders got involved to increase funds. Hills Lacrosse players helped with set-up for the event.

Cooperation was a theme in putting this event together. Mr. deMarrais, Mr. Wieland, and Mr. DeMaio (PV Principal) were also part of the support for the program.

The Empty Bowls project conducted by Hills NHS and the Art Department contributed the majority of funds. According to Mrs. White, “Pascack Hills and Valley combined raised $2,500. The Park Ridge Rotary Club donated and additional $500. Also two Rotarians donated $100 each. The total was $3,200.”

The packaging consists of placing a vitamin-seasoning packet, dehydrated vegetables, dried soy, and white rice in a bag that is then sealed and loaded into boxes for transport.

Hills and Valley students packaged 12,800 six-serving bags, which will make 76,800 meals for children in Haiti.

“It was so uplifting to see all those people – students, staff and community members – work together for a great cause!” said Mrs. White.

It was also fun for the volunteers, the two schools working together. “Everyone was singing and dancing with a goal of being as efficient as possible, which became a game for our group,” said Alexandra Mangino, Hills senior.

Mrs. White and many of the students involved hope to make this a regular event and annually raise funds to work with Stop Hunger Now. “We just have to make a commitment to help others! With a little coordination and generosity, we can make the world a better place.”