Silver Lake High School sending holiday cheer past Nebraska’s border

HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) - Volunteers from Hearts and Hands Against Hunger of Hastings and a strong contingent from Silver Lake high school came together to pack meals on Monday morning.

Silver Lake has been sending their seventh graders, all the way through seniors, to help pack these meals for the past eight years. Inside each bag packed was a mixture of things like essential vitamins and minerals, dehydrated vegetables, with rice and soy protein.

Once in boxes the food is sent to Norfolk where it is shipped around the world to places like Haiti and the Philippines. For at least one of the high schoolers involved the day holds a lasting impact.

“I don’t think a lot of us really realize where this is going, and when the guy explained to us that it’s going to other countries and states and everywhere it shocked me how many places this is going to that this is what we have to do to help them,” Taylor Hanson said. “It’s kinda sad to hear about, but it’s also good we are doing this.”

Kathy Schultz, with Hearts and Hands Against Hunger, hopes the volunteer opportunity was empowering for the students.

“Oh I am so excited to see young people helping with this project because I think it’s important for them to know they can make a difference in the world even though they’re not even out of high school yet,” Schultz said.

Hearts and Hands Against Hunger welcomes groups to call them at 402-460-8627 for information about volunteering. They also accept monetary donations to buy the raw ingredients for the meals, and they can be sent to PO Box1293, Hastings, Nebraska 68901.

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