Despite winter weather, food packing a huge success

Last week's winter weather put a stop to a lot of things. Schools canceled. Community events postponed. The area was a winter wonderland. But sleet and snow didn't prevent more than 2,700 volunteers from gathering Saturday and Sunday to pack meals for starving children around the world.

Feed My Starving Children, a mobile food-packing event sponsored by La Croix Church and supported by many volunteers in the area, was scheduled for Friday through Sunday at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau. With icy conditions Friday night, the three-day effort turned into two. Despite losing a night's work and some volunteers, the project continued Saturday and Sunday.

Sunday night, La Croix senior pastor Ron Watts posted on Facebook that 723,168 meals were packed. This will feed, according to Watts, 1,981 children daily for one year.

The total meals surpassed this year's goal of 700,000.

In addition to La Croix members, New McKendree Church in Jackson joined the effort with volunteers and financial support. Others from the area also participated.

To view a photo gallery of Sunday's packing, visitsemissourian.com/multimedia.

The outpouring of love from thousands of people in this area for starving children in other countries is incredible. So many giving of their time and resources to support this worthy cause.

One of the primary ways these events are funded is through La Croix Church's annual Christmas Eve offering. If you can't make the service, you can donate at the church or online at lacroixchurch.org.

To all those who participated, thank you. You're making a difference.