Meal Packaging

"A Day On, Not a Day Off" - MLK Day Unites Volunteers Across the Country

By Janae Curtain on January 21, 2020

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had many dreams, and one of them was a world free from hunger. He realized that if we had the power to end hunger, we could also achieve an end to poverty, create better opportunities in education and ultimately have equality among all people. As Dr. King proclaimed in his Nobel Peace Prize speech, “I have the audacity to believe that people everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits.”

This year, like every year on Martin Luther King Day, we united with volunteers to package Rise Against Hunger meals. Recognizing the importance to create change, our organization is appreciative of the thousands of volunteers worldwide who were committed to making a difference. Dr. King believed that if we all joined together for one common goal, we could create unlimited possibilities for people around the world. Imagine how our commitment to help others would affect those in need if we could continue to spread his dream.

Rise Against Hunger’s Raleigh Community Engagement Manager, Darron Stover, giving an opening speech at the Raleigh Convention Center.

In a heartfelt speech about Dr. King, our Raleigh Community Engagement Manager, Darron Stover, spoke to a group of volunteers about the importance of keeping Dr. King’s dream alive through our meal packaging events. He described the event and day of service in honor of Dr. King as “a day on, not a day off.” Take a look at the photos below to see how we celebrated our “day on” with volunteers across the country!

Family and friends join hands to package meals at the Raleigh Convention Center in downtown Raleigh, NC.

Members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. join volunteers at the Raleigh Convention Center to package meals.

Apple Volunteers package over 30,00 Rise Against Hunger meals in Seattle, Washington, on MLK Day.

Lauren Johnson from Philadelphia Fox 29 News covers the meal packaging event live in Pennsylvania.

Officer Manson from the Philadelphia police departments lends a hand at the meal packaging event.

Rise Against Hunger’s Process Improvement Manager, Teresa Yocono and her son Cole, package meals at Girard College in Philadelphia, PA.

Members of the Tau Sigma Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. package meals with other students at New Jersey City University.

Girl Scouts join hands to help package meals at the Raleigh Convention Center in downtown Raleigh, NC.

FedEx team members around the country packaged more than 150,000 meals.

With Dr. King’s dream in mind, we are honored to continue his legacy through our meal packaging events as we strive to create a hunger free world. To join the hands of others and help people in need across the globe, sign up today to volunteer, donate now, or host your own Rise Against Hunger Experience!

*Some photos are courtesy of personal accounts on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.*

About the Author

Janae Curtain is the Manager of Digital Marketing at Rise Against Hunger. Janae leads the development and execution of digital marketing initiatives including social media, email marketing, digital advertising and more!