On Friday, July 24, 2015, Jim Jordan and his wife, along with several of Jim’s wife’s Dow Chemical colleagues, joined approximately 200 other volunteers in the gym at Delaware Valley University to create, package and ship over 100,000 meals to families battling food insecurity in our community. The event was part of the annual months-long Bucks Knocks Out Hunger (BKO) program, coordinated by the local United Way.
Working in teams of 12, and using a process developed by the non-profit Outreach, Inc., they created a mini-assembly line. Ingredients, including rice, beans, soy, spices and dried veggies were placed in plastic bags, along with packets of vitamin powder. Each bag was then weighed and the amount of rice was adjusted to hit the designated target weight. Then the bags were heat sealed, stickers were affixed and they were packed, 36 to a box. Each team filled a minimum of 12 boxes per shift.
By the end of the day, more than 100,000, easy-to-prepare, nutritious meals were on their way to foodbanks throughout the region. Recipients need only empty the contents into a pot, add water and heat to make a tasty meal for 6. [by Jim Jordan]
