FARGO (KFGO) – Feed My Starving Children FargoPack hit a major milestone Saturday with its 20 millionth meal packed.
This is the 11th year the mobile pack has been operating in Fargo. The first packing event was held at Atonement Lutheran Church. Packing events have also been held at Scheels Arena and Fargodome. This year’s event is back at Atonement.
Over the years, FargoPack Executive Director Amy Okeson said volunteers have packed enough meals to feed 55,000 children around the world for one year.
“The Red River Valley has been generous and amazing,” Okeson said moments after the milestone meal was packed.
Okeson has been with FargoPack since the beginning and said the generosity, faithfulness, and service of the community is what stands out to her most as she reflected back on the past decade-plus.
“Thousands of people coming (and) of us being able to invite so many local schools to come join us,” Okeson said. “To feed children hungry in body and spirit. It’s every bit as much packing these meals to feed kids around the world as it is feeding the spirits of those thousands of local kids.”
FargoPack partners with Twin Cities-based Feed My Starving Children. Dave Gunlaugsson is the organization’s MobilePack Development Advisor and travels all over the world working with partners like FargoPack.
Gunlaugsson said FargoPack is only the third mobile pack in the U.S. to cross the 20 million meal mark. He said he’s been coming to FargoPack events for years and would not miss his opportunity to celebrate this milestone.
“You always hope that mobile packs will grow, and continue, and find their sweet spot. Fargo’s sweet spot seems to be more and more all the time, so it’s an exciting thing to be a part of.” Gunlaugsson said. “I’ve been coming here a long time and it’s so fun to see the event get to this level.”
Gunlaugsson said what makes FargoPack so special is that the people just show up when the need arises.
“They love to be together. They love to party together. They love to work hard together,” Gunlaugsson said. “And no matter the weather, no matter what’s going on, they show up over and over and over again.”
This year’s packing event runs through Tuesday. Okeson said the organization’s goal is to pack one million meals with the help of 7,000 volunteers.
More information is available at FargoPack.org.
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