On March 23, nearly 140 Rotarians and residents from across the shoreline came together at the Madison Congregational Church to pack thousands of meals to be sent to Haiti in the coming months.

The Rotary clubs of Clinton, Madison, Guilford, Branford, North Branford, and East Haven came together to pack a total of 46,000 meals. The meals were then boxed and sent to Norwich, a local headquarters for the Haitian Health Foundation (HHF), and from there they will be sent to the village of Dayere in the Grand Anse of Haiti.

Rotary, an organization dedicated to local and international service under the motto “Service Before Self,” focuses on raising funds for non-profits both locally and international and hands-on service projects. Madison Rotarian Bill Stableford, who helped bring the shoreline Rotary clubs together for this event, said this project accomplishes both goals.

“Together the six Rotary Clubs contributed $5,750, which was matched by a district-managed grant from The Rotary Foundation,” he said. “The total of $11,500 purchased 46,000 meals from the Outreach Program.”

The meals come in individual packages and are dried and sealed. Once the bag makes it to Haiti, all the recipient has to do is add boiling water. Madison Rotary President Michael Perry said there is great need for nutritious meals like this in Haiti right now.

“Unfortunately there are terrible things going on in Haiti right now with all of the protests and there are people who are going to bed hungry and really are in danger of starvation,” he said.

HHF Executive Director Marilyn Lowney said the food will be shipped to Haiti, along with medical and building supplies this April.

“Right now this is a really good time to send the food because there is a lot of political turmoil in Haiti and the money is devalued a lot [and] the prices of everything has gone up,” she said. “There is no food available...This food is great because it is in little bags already and we can put those right in our bags of other supplies and hand them out.”

HHF provides care for 250,000 people in Haiti. That care includes medical care, education, food, and extensive public health outreach. Lowney said Rotary is a great supporter of HHF.

“Rotary has been helping us almost from day one,” she said. “They have always been very supportive of our programs.”

To learn more about HHF, visit www.haitianhealthfoundation.org.