Lentils, Spice, Chicken, Rice!
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church took part in a volunteer meal packaging project for Children of the Nations (COTN) organization on March 28th, 2012. Over 80 people of all ages were in attendance to learn more about COTN, share a meal together and then package over 10,000 meals that would be transported all over the world to children in need. COTN provides holistic, Christ-centered care for orphaned and destitute children, enabling them to create positive and lasting hanges in their nations. They offer a child sponsorship program as well for those interested in offering support.
Details about the meal ingredients from the COTN website:
These nutritionally balanced, ready-to-cook meals consist of protein-packed lentils, spices (dehydrated vegetables), chicken (vitamin-enriched chicken-flavored vegan protein powder), and rice. The meal packs, sealed in industrial-grade plastic bags, are waterproof and have a shelf life of seven years. Once in-country, cooks in our feeding centers customize these basic meals with traditional flavors and spices, supplementing with meat when available.
Volunteers ate the same meal that they were about to package just prior to getting their station assignments. Many people commented that meal tasted pretty flavorful, but they would not want to eat it every day. A very nice reminder to the blessings that many of us have here in Coronado.
Meal Packaging Station
COTN were extremely organized and supervised all the different stations to ensure proper packaging and encouraging the group to have fun while being efficient. Small kids were able to help package or add colorful artwork to the boxes. Older adults that could not package or lift were able to help seal the final packages or write encouraging notes to the recipients. At the end of the event, there was a group prayer for the meals packaged and the bodys that would receive it all over the world.
Holly Cunningham is the area director for San Diego COTN is looking for more Coronado churches or organizations to get involved with future meal packaging or sponsoring a child in need.
Holly Cunningham
ph: 619.651.5207
web: www.cotni.org
email: [email protected]
Children Decorated Packages
Adults Sealing the Meals – 6 Meals Are Made from Each Individual Package
Watch the video below to hear the chant: Lentils, Spice, Chicken, Rice!
Adults Writing Letters to Recipients
Loading the Packages into the Truck
A Group Prayer at the Event Conclusion
