Newman University is partnering with Numana, Inc. in an event to help save the starving. Newman will host a State-Wide Packaging Event (SWIPE) from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Oct. 1, in the Fugate Gymnasium on the Newman campus, 3100 McCormick in Wichita. Volunteers will package up to 40,000 meal packs that will each provide food for a family of six. Four hundred volunteers are needed to help make the event as successful as possible.
Almost one in six people in the world suffer from lack of food. Twenty-five thousand people die each day from hunger – more than tuberculosis, malaria, and AIDS combined. Six million children a year die from hunger; one every six seconds; 10 every minute; 600 every hour. The question on everyone’s mind is, “with a problem so big, what can I do?” Numana has the answer: “SWIPE Out Hunger.”
Hundreds of volunteers are needed for different positions and shifts throughout the event, with the majority being needed during the 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. period as station workers and product handlers. Shifts can be as short as only an hour long. Staging before the event and tear down after the event are other duties that are available as well.
A SWIPE event is a fun, hands-on way to make an impact on thousands of lives in a short amount of time. According to Numana officials, volunteers gather around tables and package rice, soy, freeze-dried beans and a vitamin blend into packages that feed six people. In just an hour, 10 people can package more than 1,200 meals. Spend an hour, have fun with your friends, and impact world hunger.
“The Newman University community is looking forward to working with Numana on this important work,” said Rosemary Niedens, associate vice president of Academic Services and Student Development at Newman. “Newman is well known for our commitment to service. This is another example of this culture.”
Interested volunteers are encouraged to sign up by e-mailing Pam Polley at [email protected]. Also, if volunteers sign up through http://www.volunteerkansas.org./, additional materials for packaging will be donated for the event.
Numana, Inc., of El Dorado, Kan., is a nonprofit hunger relief organization that provides a way for people to come together to help save the hungry. Through food packaging events, Numana enables volunteers to experience a hands-on way of making a difference for the less fortunate in the world. By teaming with the Salvation Army World Services, Numana is able to send the food to the parts of the world that need it the most.
For more information about Numana, Inc. or about the Food Packaging Event, visit www.numanainc.com or call 316-942-4291, ext. 2137, or e-mail [email protected].
