It’s time for a ‘STOMP-ing Out Hunger’ party

Food packages will be assembled for children in Uganda and Ecuador

For the fifth year, Teri Harmon has once again partnered with “Kids Around the World” a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, to participate in “OneMeal,” which empowers groups to be a part of the solution of child malnutrition. Her event, called“STOMP-ing Out Hunger,” gathers together local volunteers to assemble food packets that will be sent to children living in impoverished villages in Uganda and Equador. This food is distributed in different care points, such as orphanages, schools, homes, churches, and community feeding centers within each country.

“This will be our fifth ‘Stomping-ing Out Hunger’ party and I am calling on all previous and new stompers to once again gather on Saturday, April 12, at 11 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church Family Center in Ballard to help assemble food packets that will be sent to Uganda and Ecuador,” Harmon said. “Last year, we not only set a record for the most meals (140,000) packed by our teams, but we did it in one hour less time, in less than 3 hours! I think we have this down pretty well now. The event should be over by 3 p.m. I’m hoping to beat last year’s record.”

Kids Around the World provides all the ingredients, such as rice, lentils, freeze-dried vegetables, and vitamin packets tobe assembled by Harmon’s team of volunteers. She explained that all these ingredients go into one bag and one bag contains six meals. Thirty-six of these bags go into one box which is then sealed, placed on pallets, and packed into trucks, which are then returned to Kids Around the World in San Clemente. Amazingly enough, one box can feed one child for an entire school year.

“Each assembly table will have an eight-plus-person team that will scoop or pour the ingredients into the packets, then seal and put them into boxes that will then be loaded back onto the truck bound for the container in which they will be shipped and then served by volunteers,” explained Harmon. “Chaperoned kids age 10 and up, along with adults up to 99 years old are asked to volunteer at this fun and worthy event.

“Let’s do this together. If you want to help sponsor this, it will cost me over $40,000 to get this done which representsthe expenses for the food ingredients/packets and shipping. Any donations are appreciated and welcome.” 

Harmon explained the whole team concept.

“You can form your own team and wear matching outfits shirts or hats, or face paint if you want, or not; do whatever you want to help get into the spirit,” said Harmon. “If you are planning on running your own team, you will need 8-plus people. One will need to be the designated Table Captain and will communicate directly with me beforehand to confirm your team member names and participation. At the Family Center, your team will be briefed by our event organizers on how easy it is to prepare and measure the ingredients correctly for packing. Trust me, this is easy stuff — anyone can do this and you will have lots of help.” 

Harmon explained that eight people per assembly line is optimal, but it can be done with fewer, if need be. There’s a rice person, a lentil person, a bag and vitamin person and a vegetable person, although the bag and vitamin person can double as this is pretty easy, two sealer people, which is the most important task (not great for your children), and a sticker and box person. The Table Captain can do this role easily. The Table Captain is responsible for getting his/herteam to the event after confirming with me who is on their team. 

“It’s a scoop, fill, seal, and pack assembly line with breaks for snacks etc. Some people can stand while others sit andyou can switch off,” said Harmon.

In short, here’s what you need to do to be a part of this fun event. Harmon suggests that you look over the following paragraph and RSVP back to her.

• You can form your own team and forward Harmon their names or follow up later with the names.
• You can join any team or be assigned where needed. There will hopefully be lots of people who just show up and help. Please let Harmon know if that’s your plan.
• Harmon is also looking for young groups (ages 13 and up) to help set up at 8:30 a.m. and help during the STOMP event. These strong kids are very important to the success of the event and the preservation of our backs!

“Because we need to order the packing supplies and materials early, I will need your RSVP information before April 1, preferably sooner,” said Harmon.

“I’ve had a few people who were unable to attend and expressed an interest in just donating money for the packing costs,” said Harmon. “My website is live and ready for donations. Please visit katw.org/stomp or mail me a check payable to Kids Around the World, c/o Teri Harmon, PO Box 1899, Santa Ynez, CA 93460.

The Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church is at 1825 Alamo Pintado Road, Solvang.

For more information or to RSVP, call (805) 688-6776, fax (805) 693-8842 or email Terisue.harmon@gmail.com.