Highland hosts ‘Food from the Heartland’

RIVERSIDE — Students and staff crowded into the Highland gymnasium Friday to churn out easy-prep meal kits for Iowans in need through an organization calls Meals from the Heartland. The school framed the occasion as a “hunger service day.”

“It’s an all-in-one meal, it’s got soy in it, it’s got rice, it’s got vitamins, minerals, dried vegetables,” Highland FFA Director Gina Trower said. “When you cook it, it makes a big pot of … an oatmeal type of thing. And when we’re done packaging these, they will be boxed up and shipped out to kids and families in Iowa that are in need.”

The school aimed to produce 40,000 meals. All teachers and students in the building were scheduled to take shifts putting meals together, forming several assembly lines.

Trower said the event matched the school’s FFA aims perfectly.

“One of the big themes that this year’s Highland FFA officers chose was unity … we are unifying the entire school,” she said. “For everybody middle school through high school, we’re giving them this opportunity to kind of give back to the community … being part of something bigger than ourselves and be able to give back and provide for people who may not be able to provide for themselves.”

Trower said every shift took some time to get rolling, but went well once underway.

“They’re kind of uneasy at first because they don’t really know what they’re walking into today, they have a verbal understanding of it but they haven’t physically seen it done yet,” she said. “To end result, so far, the last to shifts have … had fun, it’s been really exciting, so that’s great to hear … I really encourage other schools to do this.”

Highland High School and middle school principal Angela Hazelett said the event was an important lesson for students.

“I think service is the big thing kids learn from this,” she said. “That there’s a world outside of you and your life and what’s happening here in the walls of the school … I think its just good for our kids to expand their worldview.”

Hazelett credited the school’s FFA for organizing the day, after group members met representatives from Meals for the Heartland during a trip to Des Moines.

“It really is the FFA officers and the FFA local chapter that spearheaded this,” she said. “They’re planting the seed, (and) it’s really blossoming with the entire building. I heard a couple of sixth grade girls just as I walked into the building say, ‘Oh my gosh, this is so fun, I am so glad you decided to do this.’ I’ve heard nothing but good things.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com