Rise Against Hunger: Feeding a Global Need
Jim Quinney has traveled to Haiti four times and can tell you firsthand where the food packaged by local volunteers goes. How does he know these details? He works for Rise Against Hunger as their community engagement manager—a stark contrast from his former career in the insurance industry—and loves it. He began as a volunteer about five years ago and recently celebrated his one-year anniversary as a member of the team.
“Rise Against Hunger, an international relief organization, aims to show the world that it is, in fact, possible to end hunger by the year 2030” (2019 Fact Sheet). They hope to accomplish this goal by enlisting myriad volunteers who essentially find a room; set up assembly lines; and spend time measuring, weighing, and packaging rice, soy-based products, dehydrated vegetables, and other protein sources for easy transport and cooking to countries in need. The packages are then saved in a warehouse; when 285,000 meals are ready, a shipping container leaves for its destination across the ocean.
The nonprofit has served in 74 different countries and currently works in 34 countries, in addition to locations experiencing sudden and ongoing crises, such as the Bahamas after being impacted by Hurricane Dorian. The packages—which are boxed to include 36 bags—can feed one child 216 meals wich will sustain a child for a full school year. According to Quinney, this may be the only food the child has access to in countries such as Haiti.
“I love sharing my experiences [and stories of success with the community, churches, and civic clubs] and transforming people [while changing their] perception and how they view ending hunger,” says Quinney, who shares that “8,000 or more children die every day from malnutrition.” This program can help decrease, if not end, that fact.
In addition to the packaged meals, Rise Against Hunger also helps communities build small gardens to assist with improving access to healthy food. An example of success in Cambodia—where mushroom farms have been established—allows farmers to sell the produce and create a small-scale economy. Another success in Vietnam includes opportunities for women to start businesses with “micro grants,” which gives them money to launch their chance for independence. “We empower communities by increasing self-sufficiency through the promotion of agriculture development, business skills training, and market access” (2019 Fact Sheet).
Quinney shares his passion about this work. “It’s big, but it’s not unsolvable…if we collectively get there by not tolerating that level of suffering, saying no to hunger, and deciding for ourselves that we’re going to do something.” Rise Against Hunger strives to meet a three-year goal set in 2018 of increasing the number of meals sent, as well as assisting in breaking the cycle of poverty, and they’re well on their way.
By Susan Wallace
