We packaged over 60,000 meals for hungry children in Burkina Faso, through a partnership with Rise Against Hunger and several local businesses.
This year, almost 300 volunteers packaged 61,776 meals for hungry children in Burkina Faso.
Over the past six years, the Rotary Club of Bedford has partnered with Rise Against Hunger to package 370,872 meals for starving children around the world.
Corporate sponsors BAE Systems, ---- made the event possible, donating almost $18,032 to fund the food staples. Flatbread, Red Heat Tavern, Dunkin Donuts in Bedford, and Marcum kept the volunteers fueled up all day.
Tom Colgan, event coordinator for Rise Against Hunger said it was the best organized meal packaging event he has had the pleasure of working. This is no doubt due to the volunteer efforts of Bedford Rotarians Pete Colgan, Linda Carguilo, Bob Cassidy, Marc Hamilton, Victor Tom, Sze-Wen Tom, Ralph Hammond, Nicole Lang, and more.
New to the event this year: Volunteers donated non-perishable food to the Middlesex Community College (MCC) Food Pantry. Organizer Bob Cassidy said, "It's amazing what the citizens of Bedford will do when you ask them for a little help."