The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

March 3, 2008

Bethany hosts big event today

More than 600 kids packing meals

By Robb Murray

MANKATO — In this version of Kids Against Hunger’s ongoing quest to feed the world, the show has gone on the road.

Today more than 600 kids from Lutheran elementary schools around southern Minnesota will descend upon Bethany Lutheran College for a day of packing meals for, and shipping meals to, hungry kids.

The event comes out of the annual fundraising efforts of a group of Lutheran schools. The schools cooperate to hold an annual community service event that also raises money for the schools.

This year’s project looks to be the group’s largest. And Bethany is ready to host it all.

“Community service and service to mankind is an essential part of what we do as an educational institution,” said Lance Schwartz, Bethany’s marketing and public relations director. “Through our efforts, we hope we can positively impact those who are in a less fortunate situation as us.”

Local schools included in the fundraising event include Risen Savior, Mount Olive and Good Shepherd. Students also will come from as far away as Red Wing and Fulda.

The event does not involve the Mankato Kids Against Hunger program. Schwartz said this is because the Redwood Falls office of Thrivent Financial — which is a key player in pulling off the fundraiser, and in the effort to secure matching dollars for donors — is close to the Stewart office of Kids Against Hunger, and they chose to work with the closer office.

Also, the Mankato facility, Schwartz said, couldn’t accommodate 600 kids.

Schwartz said this is the largest fundraising event the consortium of Lutheran schools has ever engaged in.

In addition to packing meals, each of the students has been raising funds at their schools. The Stewart Kids Against Hunger program works like the Mankato program, where volunteers must purchase the meals they hope to pack.

“This is probably the biggest group of kids we’ve hosted,” Schwartz said. “I think it’ll go well. There’s been extensive planning.”

The event runs all day in Bethany’s South Gym.

In addition to the event at Bethany, another 1,200 Lutheran grade school students, teachers and chaperones will participate in similar events in New Ulm and Rochester on Friday.

The two-day project’s goal is to package 500,000 meals and raise $50,000 for Kids Against Hunger.

“We’re just happy to be part of the event and look forward to having all these kids on campus to work for a cause we all believe strongly in,” Schwartz said.

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