Books have a tendency to open peoples eyes and minds to the world around us. Recently a book study group I am part, read the book Mountains Beyond Mountains, the quest of Dr. Paul Farmer to cure the world. He was a man who was gifted with a love for the people he cured. He was a disease specialist and anthropologist whose calling in life was to diagnose and cure infectious diseases in the mountains of Haiti. There are kids living and attending school in those mountains who need nutritious lunch for school year. It has been an eye opening, sharing experience, for the sharing of our life. We, the Gallatin Valley Packathon for Haiti, are packing over 30,000 school lunches on October 19, 2024 at Hope Lutheran Church. It is our way to share our love for others of God’s created children.
This group of local Bozeman neighbors from Christ the King Lutheran, Hope Lutheran Church and other neighboring churches have set a goal goal to assemble more than 30,000 school lunches for Haitian kids to enjoy through 2025, the academic year and the summer. We are hoping to join 300 volunteers ages 5-105, who will pack 3 tons of rice, beans, dehydrated vegetables, and vitamins in plastic sacks for shipment to the Haitian school for the whole year. This is a great endeavor for children in need and we are asking for your help: to help financially and physically provide lunches for a school year.
When we lived in South Dakota a few years ago we were involved in a meal program for local kids, called PACH, 'People Against Childhood Hunger.' We provided meals for the weekends for those who had a need. We were surprised at the need families in rural America are experiencing. Food shortage around the world is difficult for all our communities. Will you help the Gallatin Valley Packathon for Haiti? We are in need of $30,000 to purchase the food for the packing and shipping costs to Haiti. There is a need, will you find a way to walk with us and the team to feed the children of Haiti.
Will Olsen, retired.
If you prefer to donate with a check, please write it to Future Forward for Haiti, and mail it to 3805 Toole Street, Bozeman MT 59718. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with no paid employees so over 95% of your gift goes to provide these meals.