On June 3, the James River Baptist Association (JBRA) held its 10th meal packing event for Rise Against Hunger (formerly Stop Hunger Now). Rise Against Hunger is an international hunger relief nonprofit organization that coordinates the packaging and distribution of food and other life-changing aid to people in developing nations. Founded in 1998 by a United Methodist minister, Rise Against Hunger mobilizes more than 350,000 volunteers each year to package meals for people in need around the globe. Since 2005, Rise Against Hunger has distributed more than 315,000,000 meals to recipients in 74 countries with a mission to end hunger in our lifetime.

The JBRA became involved in this outreach in 2010. Since that time, they have raised more than $67,000 and packaged 248,571 meals for hungry people in the Ivory Coast, Haiti, Uganda, the Philippines, Vietnam, Zimbabwe, Cambodia and Nicaragua. Maysville Baptist, individuals, and the Baptist General Association of Virginia have partnered with JRBA to make this possible.

One hundred and one volunteers, representing 12 area churches, gathered at Maysville Baptist Multi-Purpose Center June 3 to work cooperatively in getting 32,518 meals packed and ready for shipment. Various tasks were required to get the job done, from putting labels on boxes to carting 50 pound bags of rice and soy to multiple bagging stations. This effort is one way in which the churches of JBRA emulate their motto, “Accomplishing Together What We Cannot Do Alone.”