Written by: 
Mona Duffel Jones
Director of Communications and Marketing
August 22, 2013

(New Orleans) - On Friday, August 23, Dillard University’s Class of 2017 will package 10,000 meals in partnership with “Stop Hunger Now,” an international hunger relief agency, as part of a freshmen community service project. Students will prepare the meals from 9 a.m. until noon in Henson Hall.   Carretta Cooke, director of the Center for Career and Professional Development, said that this is the first time Dillard students are partnering with the non-profit agency that operates out of Raleigh, NC.

“We hope that by participating in this event our students will have a better understanding about hunger and how a brief time of service can affect people on a global scale,” Cooke said.  “This is important for our students because they get to view the world through a global lens of inclusion and are educated about hunger and its impact,” she added.

Dillard University has been recognized nationally for its student engagement efforts in the New Orleans area. As part of its graduation requirements students must complete a minimum of 120 hours of community service. Last year, the Class of 2013 completed more than 36,000 hours of volunteer service.

Since 1998, “Stop Hunger Now” has been distributing food and other lifesaving aid to children and families in countries throughout the world. It began its meal packaging program in 2005. The program perfected the assembly process that combines rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables and a flavoring mix including 21 essential vitamins and minerals into small meal packets. Each meal costs only 25 cents. The food stores easily, has a shelf-life of two years and transports quickly. “Stop Hunger Now” works with international partners that ship and distributes the meals in-country.