Church comes together to ‘Rise Against Hunger’

Published 9:13 am Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Hooping and hollering could be heard in the fellowship hall of Crawford Street United Methodist Church last week.

Members of the congregation, as well as volunteers from around the community, were packaging nutritious dehydrated meals as part of Rise Against Hunger, and every time a gong was sounded, the group would celebrate.

“We sound the gong every time we finish packaging 1,000 meals,” director of CSUMC playschool and children’s ministries Danielle Warnock said.

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The group’s goal was to reach 40,000 meals, which they did during the two packing sessions held throughout the day, Warnock said.

During the first packaging session, adults and children participated in the packaging, and during the evening session, youth and volunteers who were volunteering with the Service Over Self program participated.

During both packaging sessions, volunteers worked in assembly lines, where they packaged meals comprised of rice, soy, vegetables and vitamins and minerals.

Toni Newman and her daughter, Rachel, were two of the volunteers participating during the afternoon packaging session.

“We travel around to these events when we know they are going on,” Newmann said.

Both mother and daughter live in Vicksburg and have participated in about five Rise Against Hunger events, Newmann said.

Rise Against Hunger is an international hunger relief organization that distributes food and life-changing aid to the world’s most vulnerable.

The volunteer meal-packaging program is designed to give individuals and organizations the opportunity to participate in a hands-on international hunger relief program.

These events also strive to educate and engaged advocates for the world’s hungry.

One in nine people suffer from hunger, and according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization almost all of these people live in developing countries.

Since Rise Against Hunger was founded in 1998, the program has grown and evolved, working not only to help feed those that are hungry, but to also offer training skills and or services that aid in the journey out of poverty.

Rise Against Hunger’s goal is to end hunger by 2030.

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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