We fight global hunger!

Save The Date: Meal Packaging Event! Yes, the fun family event when we package thousands of meals in the school cafeteria for those in need around the world is back! Mark your calendars for Sunday, February 12, 2012, beginning at 10:30 am for this faith-filled and energizing event.

CMOQ's service committee is sponsoring its second annual Meal Packaging program in conjunction with Catholic Relief Services. Our parish family will package 10,000 meals for the hungry overseas. Last year, our meals were sent to Haiti, and this year, they may be sent to the African nation, Burkina, which is classified as both a least developed country and a low-income, food deficit country.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

We need to raise $5000.00 for the grain, vegetables and vitamin supplements we will package and ship. We are seeking sponsorship for the event and suggest a $1000.00 individual sponsorship. Alternatively, individuals and families are welcome to join with others to create a sponsorship. Two contributors at $500? Four contributors at $250? All combinations are welcome. Please let us know if you are able to help in this important way. Many thanks to all for your support. Questions? Please contact us.

Last year's event:
On January 9, 2011, the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen collaborated with Stop Hunger Now and Catholic Relief Services to pilot a Meal Packaging Program to feed the hungry in in the poorest countries. Our Service Outreach Ministry's Haiti Program gathered volunteers to scoop rice, soy meal, vegetables and vitamins into small plastic bags to be shipped overseas.

It was a HUGE SUCCESS! The goal was to package 10,000 meals for the hungry around the globe. More than 250 people of all ages came and packaged 20,088 meals!

The Meal Packaging Program feeds those who fall through the food safety net: the orphaned, elderly, and infirm. Our volunteers enjoyed the festive atmosphere and especially liked being able to do a service event with their children. One parishioner commented: "I think that one of the best parts about this program is having such a high level of involvement from all of the children, as this process provides a very tangible element to service learning. Building awareness and associations is so important, and our entire family was grateful to have played a part in helping yesterday. The music, the '1000 meal gong,' and community spirit made for a fun, productive, and beautiful day."

Paddy Morton of the CMOQ Service Outreach Committee said to the people who came, "Thank you for making it so fun to do good for others. I hope this event made you all feel as proud as I did to be a part of our Cathedral community." Sarah Robinson, the Community Giving Specialist from Catholic Relief Services who was here to assist, was very impressed. CRS is going to use the Cathedral as a pilot parish to see how effective parishes can be in direct support of CRS mission beyond contributions.

See a slide show of our January 2011 Meal Packaging Event!