Unite in the fight

United Way packing meals, needs volunteers to help

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BROOKINGS – The Brookings Area United Way will kick off its 2017 fundraising campaign with a first-ever event: Unite in the Fight Against Hunger.

“What we’ll end up doing is packing 50,000 meals that then will be distributed to local agencies ... to assist in the fight against hunger,” said Heidi Gullickson, director of the Brookings Area United Way.

It’s hard for kids to focus in school if “they’re hungry or worried about where is supper gonna come from,” Gullickson said. “Making sure that resources are available in the community is a way that we can help people stay on track and be able to keep nutrition up and stay focused on other things.”

She’s putting out a call for 250 volunteers.

The food pack is set for Sept. 11 at the Swiftel Center. Volunteers are needed for set up and tear down, but the majority will pack macaroni and cheese and apple cinnamon oatmeal.

Shifts will run from 1:30-4 p.m. and 3:30-6 p.m., with the first half hour set aside for going over the steps to measure out and package the meals as well as getting prepared with sanitizer and hair nets.

“We’ll need teams of 10-12 for each line,” Gullickson said, adding there will be a line leader to direct volunteers.

“Everyone will have a specific job to do,” she said.

Volunteers should be 12 years and older. Sign-up online at www.volunteer.helplinecenter.org.

“I think it’ll be a great event ... to showcase the volunteerism that happens in Brookings County,” Gullickson said, encouraging clubs, organizations, churches and families to participate, and “work groups to use it as a team-building exercise.”

When the packing is complete, the food will go to United Way’s funded partners such as Harvest Table, Brookings County Food Pantry, Feeding Brookings and the Backpack Project.

Gullickson said United Way has been reaching out to the food banks in White and Elkton.

“They’re still within Brookings County, so we can still help to support them, if they have a need for this,” she said.

All the food will be distributed to local organizations, Gullickson said.

“We won’t hand any of it out,” she said. “We won’t have any here at the United Way. We’re just not set up for it here, so we’ll continue to let those who do that work do that work. We’re just here to help support.

“It’s really a collaborative effort,” Gullickson said, adding each organization is doing what they do best, with the others working directly with people who need help and United Way assisting with fundraising. “Everybody’s about the goal of making sure people have food.”

Contact Jodelle Greiner at jgreiner@brookingsregister.com.