Fairfield volunteers pack more than 12,000 meals

FAIRFIELD — About 70 volunteers gathered at the Word of Life Lutheran Church in Fairfield Sunday to pack boxes of food for those in need.

The event was known as Take Away Hunger, and involves packing meals consisting of a black bean and rice casserole. On Sunday, volunteers packed 12,095 meals in just two hours. That brings the total number of meals packed in Fairfield to 488,982 since the program’s inception.

Six local churches partner in this endeavor — First Baptist Church, First Christian Church, First Presbyterian Church, Friends Church, Word of Life in Fairfield, and Faith Methodist Church in Libertyville. Word of Life hosts the event because it has a large gymnasium, perfect for a large assembly-line operation that involves weighing ingredients, putting them in bags and finally sealing and flattening them so they fit neatly into a box.

Russ Cooper of Word of Life Lutheran Church said his congregation was excited to host another Take Away Hunger food packing in their church.

“This fun outreach opportunity creates healthy meals that can be easily shipped to communities in need, whether overseas or right here at home in the United States for areas affected by tornadoes, hurricanes and other weather-related disasters," Cooper said.

Take Away Hunger is under the direction of Don and Sandee Fields of Brighton, who started it to feed people in poor countries, and then expanded it to feeding areas of the United States, including Cedar Rapids after it was hit by the derecho in 2020 and after the floods a few years before that. Meals also go to Tolsons Community Center and Fellowship Cup, both in Mt. Pleasant, and The Lord’s Cupboard in Fairfield.

Don Henderson, one of the chief organizers of the event, said the meals are packed with vitamins, and designed for malnourished kids in Third World countries. He added that the meals are not only healthy but tasty, too.

“It’s not bad, actually,” he said. “We’ve taken meals to The Lord’s Cupboard, and some of the ladies there worked up a chicken noodle soup to add to it.”

The six participating churches, plus other members of the community, contribute funds to purchase the meals and send volunteers for the food packing. Henderson said he and his wife Donna attend the First Christian Church, which collects quarters for its fundraiser.

Don and Sandee Fields began this program under the name Kids Against Hunger in 2003, packing from their warehouse in Brighton. In 2016, Don and Sandee rebranded their company under the name Take Away Hunger. Their mission remained the same: “Feed the hungry and show the love of Jesus.”

In their first year of operation, they packaged 250,000 meals. Their desire to help others spread to centers throughout the state and now number 17, of which 13 Don and Sandee oversee and supply.

In 2010, those wing units were responsible for producing 4 million meals which are being used in four nations and also here in Iowa.

In 2010, Kids Against Hunger moved from their Brighton location to the new office warehouse location at 1301 West Saunders Ave. in Mt. Pleasant, where they are continuing to grow and expand. Their goal is to establish 50 wing units in the state of Iowa to help fight global hunger.

-Diane Goudy contributed to this report.

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com