10/22/13 jgm
As a part of a state-wide food packaging event, SWIPE, Fort Hays State University will package 50,000 meals for the starving people in Rwanda, Africa, and the U.S. on Saturday, Oct. 26, in Forsyth Library.

The Center for Civic Leadership and Forsyth Library will combine resources to support the Numana Swipe Out Hunger Campaign. Numana is an international hunger relief organization based in El Dorado.

SWIPE kicks off Poverty Awareness Week on the FHSU campus Oct. 26 through Nov. 2.

A SWIPE event is a fun, hands-on way for students and volunteers from the community to make an impact on thousands of lives in a short amount of time. Volunteers gather around tables and package rice, soy, freeze-dried beans and a vitamin blend into packages, each of which feeds six people. In just an hour, 10 people can package more than 1,200 meals.

"About 300 volunteers are needed to work the event from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.," said Brenna Johnson, Global Leadership Project student coordinator. "Of the 50,000 total meals. 20,000 will be used domestically and 30,000 will be sent to Rwanda. Anyone ages 3 and up can volunteer to help package the meals."

To learn more about the SWIPE Out Hunger Campaign, visit http://swipeouthunger.com. For registration forms or more information about the event, email Johnson at glp@fhsu.edu or stop by Custer Hall, room 206.