“Food for Kidz” organizers are busy making plans for this year’s community activity.

The packing will last about two hours, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, March 9, in the Community Center.

In the last six years, local volunteers have packed more than 300,000 meals that have been distributed to refugees, disaster victims, and other low-income households, according to Don and Pat Corey, of New Journey Lutheran Church, co-chairs of the event. Co-sponsor is Church of the Ascension.

Last year about 300 volunteers helped pack the meals, including many children and senior participants.

Community sponsors – organizations and people – are encouraged to contribute funds to buy the bulk dry ingredients that go into the meals.

“It’s really a church and community effort. We’re always seeking additional groups and organizations to join with us,” Pat Corey said. “We’re always seeking financial support.”

Assembly lines are formed to combine nutritional ingredients into two types of easily cooked dehydrated meals: dried soup mix with rice, dried vegetables, soy protein and vitamins; and oatmeal with sugar, cinnamon and vitamins.

The project has been done in conjunction with the international relief organization, Food for Kidz. Twenty-five percent of the meals are distributed to international hunger relief.

In addition, 75 percent of the meals packed stay in Arizona and distributed through the Extended Hands Food Bank and other groups that feed the hungry in Arizona.

By using volunteer labor and bulk ingredients to make the meals, the cost of the meals is brought down to about 15 cents a meal, said Corey. However, the project relies on contributions in order to buy the bulk ingredients. A donation of $100 pays for 667 meals, while $500 pays for 3,333 meals.

For more information, Don and Pat Corey can be reached by email at fhfoodpack@njlc-fh.org.