Fort Myers Christian School Feed the Need Surpasses Goal of Raising $60,000 as a School Fundraiser and Student-Led 10,000 Meal Food Packing Project!

Fort Myers, FL (October 22, 2018) – Fort Myers Christian School (FMCS) has surpassed its fundraising goal of $60,000 to support its school through an innovative “food-raising” packing project called “Feed the Need” early!
Feed the Need is a fundraiser for FMCS that sets aside a significant portion of the funds raised to purchase, pack and distribute healthy meals to hungry children in Haiti, Jolo, West Virginia and Southwest Florida!
FMCS Principal Mel Mitchell explained, “Feed the Need is a ‘food-raiser’ that provides needed funds for Fort Myers Christian School, and a portion of the funds raised go toward providing healthy meals for hungry children and families. The reason this fundraiser appealed so much to us is because of the way it engaged our students to impact others for Jesus. FMCS students will personally pack, seal, and box over 10,000 meals that will be shipped and distributed to truly hungry children and families at home in Southwest Florida, to an impoverished community in Jolo, West Virginia, and to families in Haiti, some of whom are accustomed even to eating ‘dirt cookies’.”
Dirt cookies are made of dirt, butter and salt. They hold little nutritional value but manage to keep Haiti’s poor alive. The 8,000 meals that will be shipped to Haiti will go to orphan homes and schools to feed about 2,800 children.
Feed the Need at FMCS culminates in a one-day, student-led food packing party event on November 1, 2018 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. NBC2 News anchor Peter Busch will be our honorary emcee with Principal Mel Mitchell.
“I have a daughter who attended Fort Myers Christian School, so I’ve seen firsthand how dedicated they are to helping the community,” explained Peter Busch. “I think this is going to be an incredible event, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
“This is a meaningful, hands-on event that provides our students the opportunity to serve those in need as we prepare students to live their lives in a way that draws people into the love of Jesus,” Principal Mitchell added.
The Title Sponsor for Feed the Need is Denny Grimes & Company. Gold Sponsors joining are Best Western Fort Myers Waterfront and Gulf Star Marina. Partner level are Bastos Pavers, State Insurance USA, LLC, and North Trail RV Center.
Media sponsors include Southwest Florida’s WAY-FM, 96.9 WINK FM, The Corridor, SWFL Parent & Child Magazine, and Christian Television Network (CTN) SWFL. “These media sponsors are leading the way helping us promote this event and build awareness about food insecurity, just as we enter November, which is hunger and homelessness awareness month,” explained Mitchell.
Each Feed the Need meal bag is fully nutritionally balanced, designed by dieticians at General Mills specifically for malnourished children. Each bag contains hydrated vegetables, soy or beans for protein, nineteen essential vitamins and minerals, and rice for carbohydrates and energy.
Students at Fort Myers Christian School will be the ones building and packing the meals. There are four bins per station containing each ingredient with the proper measurement utensil for students to pack them. One person stands at each bin and puts his ingredient into a stationary funnel. Another person holds an empty bag under the funnel as the ingredients are poured into the bag. The bag is then weighed and sealed and taken to a table to be packed into a box for shipment.
FMCS sixth grade student Kennedy Horne had the opportunity to share what it meant to her to get involved with supporting those who face food insecurity. “It made me realize how fortunate I am to have food to eat and a home to live in. When I saw the pictures of people in Jolo, West Virginia, it made me feel sad.”
Miriam Pereira, Director of Development for the Harry Chapin Food Bank, will join us for the day of the event to pack food and talk about serving others in the community. She said of the event, “We truly appreciate the efforts of students and everyone involved in the food-raising event. Your support and passion for feeding our neighbors in need will make a difference in our community.”
Harry Chapin will be on site at Fort Myers Christian School on November 1 from 9:00 – 12:00 PM for members of the public who want to bring donations of nonperishable food items. Needed items include the following: canned meats and fish, fruit (cups, canned or dried), vegetables (canned), soups, breakfast cereals, oatmeal, peanut butter, rice pasta, macaroni & cheese (boxed), instant mashed potatoes (boxed), and dry beans.
FMCS Board Member Pat Carroll explained the importance of “reaching, teaching, and sending” students out to serve others. “This experience will impact the life of each student involved. It will cause a lifetime desire to help others,” she shared. “They will never forget this.”
Mr. Mitchell shared, “Our core values at FMCS are Faith, Love, Integrity, Excellence & Service. Students don’t learn these concepts in a vacuum; they experience them through real life community service opportunities. We are proud of this chance to “Feed the Need” and serve our community in SWFL, West Virginia, and Haiti!”
For more information visit www.FMCS-FL.org/Feed-The-Need or look for these hashtags: #FMCSFeedTheNeed #FeedTheNeedFortMyers #YouBelongHere. Photos from the Feed the Need Kickoff Event and Feed the Need event poster included at the links below.