Pat Sheil

Dos 771
April 2017
Feed My Starving Children
This semester I was fortunate enough to volunteer with an amazing non-profit
organization called Feed My Starving Children (FMSC). The goal of the organization is
to provide nutritionally rich meals to malnourished children from over 70 developing
countries such as Honduras, Guatemala, Haiti, and the Philippines just to name a few.
The meals are funded by generous donations from donors. Volunteers are assembled
daily throughout the week to hand pack the meals.
The meal we helped package at the Illinois location that I volunteered at was
FMSCs MannaPack Rice Formula. This formula consisted of white rice, soy protein,
dehydrated vegetables and vitamin/mineral blend. Protein is an essential factor in growth
and physical development. The vitamins and minerals replenish nutritional deficiencies in
countries that lack resources or food security.
Volunteers worked as an assembly line to package these meals. Each group was
assigned a specific country; my group was assigned the Philippines. Volunteers were
stationed at the vegetable, mineral, soy, and vitamin bins where they took a scoop of each
ingredient and placed them into a funnel where a bag was held underneath for the
contents to be captured (Figure 1). This bag would then be passed to another volunteer
where the white rice was added and appropriately weighed to ensure weight standards
were met. The bag was then handed to another volunteer for it be sealed using a hot iron
sealer (Figure 2). Then bag was then given to the next volunteer who would then pack it
into a box (Figure 3). Once the box was full another volunteer would come and transport
the box to the warehouse. The position that I held during this process was the bag sealer,
as you had to be at least 18 years of age to operate it.
I had such an amazing time volunteering at Feed My Starving Children. I had no
idea how energetic the atmosphere would be! Everyone there was so passionate and
upbeat. Music was playing in the background and as groups would finish packing a box
they would belt out a creative chant involving the country they were assigned. The two
hours were full of laughter and efficiency as many meals were packed. After the two
hours were up, all of the volunteers were taken to the warehouse where we all circled
around the boxes we helped pack that night and prayed over them. This was an amazing
moment as hundreds of strangers held hands in unison to participate. At the end of the
night we were told that we all had packed 151 boxes, which equated to 32,616 meals
(Figure 4). Lastly, a slideshow presentation was given on how Feed My Starving
Children helped transform a malnourished infant from the Philippines (Figures 5 & 6).
Relating this to dosimetry, this event showed me just how important support and
teamwork is to achieving a goal. Hundreds of strangers came out that night with a
common goal, to help pack meals for those who are less fortunate. It is inspiring to see
how much can be accomplished when everyone is so eager and passionate about getting a
task done. Communication was essential in obtaining the final package results. Orders
and favors were being communicated effectively amongst all the chaos throughout the
night as ingredients were low or boxes were finished being packed. In a clinical setting, it
is often times high paced and everyone is focusing on their specific task but it is
important to communicate with team members and help someone if they need it to
continue efficient workflow. No one position or member of the team is more important
than the other, it takes a conscious group effort to be successful. I am very happy that I
was able to experience such a positive and uplifting event with such inspiring people. I
am happy knowing that my two hours that night will help provide 32,616 meals for those
who need it most. I am thankful for Feed My Starving Children for giving me the
opportunity.

Feed My Starving Children Links:

https://www.fmsc.org/
http://slamminfamine.org/wp-content/uploads/foodproductguide.pdf






Figure 1 & 2. Assembly line showing the process of scooping, weighing, and sealing.

Figure 3. Sealed meals ready for packing

Figure 4. Results of the night

Figures 5 & 6. Nutritional transformation of child from the Philippines