BLUE MONDAY - STOP HUNGER NOW

Sally at, Smiling Sally, is our host for Blue Monday.  Thank you Sally for keeping this fun event going in spite of your surgery and recovery.  You are the best.  You are a dear blogging friend, whom I hope to meet one day. 

Sally is having surgery again today.

My advice is...

Prayers, blessings and love to you Sally.

My title might throw you today but I want to share a most heartwarming day in my life with all of you.  This past Saturday Bill and I volunteered to help a 'Stop Hunger Now Project.'  It involved the Rotary Clubs in our area as well as several local churches.  Seven hundred and fifty people of all ages joined together to reach a goal to feed the hungry in Haiti.

The following is a quote from Julie, the coordinator of this project:

Julie Voorhees

"Stop Hunger Now. We packaged 100,224 meals for Haiti today, at a cost of 25 cents per meal. We raised all of the money we needed, and we had 670 volunteers sign in and help pack. What a day!'

HERE COMES THE BLUE

Bill and I wearing blue hairnets because we were handling the food packages.  Everyone handling food wore a blue hairnet

THE NEXT PHOTOS ARE THE PROJECT IN ACTION.

First the instructions. This guy was standing on bags of rice.   We all had jobs that worked like clockwork.  Food had to be packaged weighed, sealed and packed in boxes.  Basically the food packages were dry food supplements which included soy, dehydrated vegetables, added nutrients and rice.  Each package fed six people.

We all gathered in the Armory.  The cooperation and camaraderie was wonderful.

The machine you see in front of the rice is the sealer.  That was my job.

Even the kids were involved.  This gong rang every time we finished 5,000 bags of rice.  The whole room would cheer in unison.  What a feeling.  The children took turns hitting the gong.

Several Rotary clubs and churches were volunteers.  This group is filling the packages.

Did you know Sylva is my first name?

This is how they counted  packages to be packed in each box.  Each square on the cardboard would hold two packages of food.  When each square was filled it totaled 36 packages.  Then a box was packed and the process started over again. It was imperative that just 36 packages went into each box.

This box was being packed.

Boxes are then packed in this truck to be taken to the airport.

This is a photo I saved  to share next to last.  On the right is my little great niece Amber.  My nephew, her daddy, is holding her hand.  Her brother, Coulter, not pictured because he was home sick with the flu, collected money from the kids on his bus for the children of Haiti.  She turned it in for her brother that day.  That guy pointing his finger at Amber is my hubby.

These photos are not mine.  My battery died and Tammy combs gave me permission to use her photos.  Thank you Tammy you made my day.  Tammy is one of Bill's math students.

Tammy

Tammy is the girl in red filling a package of food.

I was so thrilled to be a part of this project.  This is what Americans do.  Pull together in a crisis. Even for another country.  I am proud to be an American.

Blessings to each of these wonderful volunteers.

Jeanne

Comments

[valerie]

whata good job you all did love those hairnets the height of fashion:)

[Beverly]

This makes my heart happy. I am so proud of you.

Love you.

[racheld]

Jeanne,

This has been one of the most inspiring BLUE Mondays I've ever seen!!! All the bright faces and the eager hands---and so MANY in one place. I have a vision of a great light surrounding that busy, happy place, with the music of the gong resounding over and over.

I'm SO glad you're my friend!!

rachel

PS And for two days in a row, we're speaking Latin---SYLVA is one of the first words you learn as you start out---along with agricola---"FARMER" or "keeper of the earth"---Sylva is forests, or woodlands, green and growing and supplying our air and our needs.

Quite apropos that you are named for such a lovely, sharing place.

[Connie]

I'm glad to see my church was there but I knew they would be, honey. Those people are amazing for doing all this. God bless each and every one of them. That's what we're supposed to do: help one another.
xoxo,
Connie

[Rose]

Wow what a great event, may God bless you all for that.

My Blue Monday post

[Sally]

LOL Now, I usually think that blue is so pretty that everyone would improve their looks by adding it; however, ... those hair nets ... LOL

The funniest thing is that one of your pictures shows a young lady with a looong pony tail HANGING OUT OF HER HAIR NET! LOL

You gave me some chuckles today, Jeanne. Happy blue Monday!

BTW: my surgery is tomorrow at 10:00. Thanks for your prayers.

[Ann Creek]

I think this is one of things we're here on this earth for. To share what we have with those who have not. Looks like there were many churches and groups represented. Happy Blue Monday.
Ann

[Kathy]

Very sweet... Happy Blue Monday!

[angie]

good for all of you the pictures are great and I loved seeing all of you working together for good

[Bill]

This is a small community and there were 650 people who turned out to do this project. That's unbelievable.

Julie the coordinator did an outstanding job.

[dana]

Jeanne, my eyes just filled with tears as I looked at those photos and read your text. What a wonderful outpouring of kindness and generosity for a country that is in such need. I'm certain every recipient will feel the love that went into the preparation of those food packages. L, Dana

[Lorrie]

Hi Jeanne, I know I've been mostly MIA lately, but I've enjoyed getting caught up here with you a bit. What a wonderful event this is. I know whenever I participate in something of this nature I feel so humbled and thankful to be able to be a small part in helping others. A great Blue Monday post.

[bj]

Why, sister friend, this is, by far, the most impressive BLUE MONDAY post I've ever seen in my entire blog life ! What a noble thing for everyone to do..including you and your Bill. Great job!! and I am very proud of you both.
love, bj

[Beth]

We are our brother's keepers. I loved this Blue post filled with so much love. I loved also how the Little children got involved and caring about our brothers and sisters in Haiti! Beautiful post!
You and Bill radiate that beauty too:-)

[rue]

Hi sweet Jeanne...... or should I call you Sylvia ;)

I've never seen anyone look so cute in a hair net as you do! What a great job y'all did for Haiti. Amazing!

I hope you enjoyed your Spring Cleaning break. Nothing like a fresh clean house :)

CC is so cute!! She looks like a fuzzy bear.

I missed you too dear friend...

love always,
rue

[Deborah]

Beautiful heartwarming story Jeane. It is wonderful when everyone pulls together like that and you are right, it is something that America is known for: its willingness to help others. I am looking forward to meeting you this weekend at Sheila's get together.

[MyThoughtsMyVoice]

Hello Jeanne,

This is very heart warming. To see a gathering of such wonderful people with a good heart. And then seeing you! :-) You all are great and very dear.

Mizpah,
Li

[Mary]

What fabulous community spirit Jeanne. Looks like everyone involved was having a good time. As for you dear, even in a blue hairnet you are beautiful!!!

Jeanne - are you pleased with Typepad for your blog? Do you have just the basic plan - I note there are 3 options? I'm thinking of changing as Blogger is getting to be a pain - I cannot get them to load the storage space I've paid for my pics so cannot post any pics right now. Google has no customer service - cannot speak to anyone by phone or send direct e-mails - they are not at all user friendly! Any info you can share with me on using Typepad would be greatly appreciated. Thanks dear.

Happy weekend -
Hugs - Mary