Our Lady of Mercy (OLM) is still seeking a new home for its school after losing its lease as of 2018, but that hasn’t stopped the school community from continuing to give back. On Sunday, April 24, OLM community members will work to fight hunger as they assemble healthy meals to be sent to hungry children in the United States and Kenya.

Partnering with Feeding Children Everywhere (FCE), and organization that mobilizes communities to help assemble meals for the hungry, OLM volunteers will work to assemble 10,000 meals to be distributed.

OLM 3rd grade teacher Melanie Hartmann, a lead organizer for the event, said she was inspired to participate after hearing about other people’s positive experience with the event.

“OLM worked on this project two years ago,” she said. “During this time I was teaching a confirmation class at St. Margaret’s Church. A friend who also was teaching had a daughter who had interned with FCE and thought it would be a great idea for our Confirmation students and the OLM community. It was a great experience.”

Over the past several months, the OLM community has been raising money and Hartmann said they have really tried to get the students involved as well.

“The students of OLM were asked to do chores around the house to earn money to donate,” she said. “We truly wanted this to be a hands-on event from beginning to end. Having the children see what their hard work can do is a great experience.”

Hartmann said they have also reached out to the broader community for fundraising support and have received many donations from groups like the Madison Rotary Club. She said they are always open to donations.

The number of meals assembled will depend on the amount of money raised, she said.

On the day of the event, FCE will provide supplies for the healthy meals and it will be up to volunteers to put them together.

“The meals consist of lentils, white rice, dehydrated vegetables, and Himalayan salt,” she said. “Every dollar raised feeds four children. In an assembly line fashion, the volunteers put the ingredients into meal bags that are then boxed up for delivery.”

The meals will then be sent to communities in Kenya where 3.5 million citizens have been declared food insecure and to American families where 48.1 million Americans live in food insecure households, according to FCE.

Hartman said they are looking for as many volunteers as possible to sign up.

“All volunteers are welcome, adults and children,” she said. “The more we have the faster the work gets done.”

The event takes place Sunday, April 24 from 1 to 3 p.m. at OLM School at 149 Little Neck Road. To donate or to volunteer, visit www.feedingchildreneverywhere.com.