[edit] Vibha Teams up with FMSC to feed hungry kids around the world.

On July 25th 2009, Vibha Minnesota partnered with a local non-profit organization - Feed my starving children to hand-pack meals formulated specially for undernourished and starving children, which are later shipped to more than 60 countries across the globe.

Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) has worked with leading scientists representing major food companies such as Cargill and General Mills to develop a food mixture that would be easy and safe to transport, simple to make with only boiling water, and culturally acceptable worldwide. The simple yet balanced formula consists of:

1. Rice, the most widely accepted grain around the world.
2. Extruded soy nuggets, providing maximum protein at lowest cost.
3. Vitamins, minerals and a vegetarian chicken flavoring to give growing children the critical nutritional elements they need.
4. Dehydrated vegetables for flavor and nutrition.

Packaged in small pouches—each of which provides six highly nutritious meals—this easy-to-prepare food blend has won rave reviews all over the world. While the formula was designed to save the lives of severely malnourished and starving children, the ingredients also improve the health, growth and physical well-being of children who are no longer in immediate danger of starvation.

An enthusiastic group of 16 Vibha volunteers & friends spent a little over an hour packing these meals. Abbey - who was turning 9 that week was also there celebrating her birthday with her friends. In a very short amount of time, amidst friendly competition, loud cheers and birthday greetings the group of 30-35 volunteers packed a total of 9936 meal packets! To put it in perspective, these packets of food would provide a year's worth of meals for 27 children across the world saving them from the trenches of starvation leading to death.

In addition to an informative and moving video presentation at the beginning, there was a good Q & A session towards the end, which gave insight into the processes and programs that FMSC supports and drives. Vibha-MN has in the past volunteered with local organizations such as Jeremiah Foundation, FMSC and Big Brother Big Sisters. If you would like to join the cause and help volunteer with Vibha, send an email to volunteer@minnesota.vibha.org

Volunteering doesn't necessarily require large time commitments, just a handful of motivated people who believe they can make a change.

[edit] More Photos From the Visit

Next Volunteer Meeting
Second Tuesday of every Month
6:30 to 8:30pm
University of Minnesota, Saint Paul Campus
Ruttan Hall, Room B36
1994 Buford Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108