Oconee community responds to world hunger

In a two-hour exercise, church and civic club members from the Walhalla-West Union area packaged 18 thousand meals to be flown to countries that have the greatest hunger needs.  All bays in the West Union Fire Department were emptied of engines and pumpers Saturday morning, as around 100 people turned out in an event led by the organization Rise Against Hunger.  Tables were set up inside the building in an assembly-line manner.  The volunteer food packagers received instructions how to pack the rice and vegetable meals and seal them so that, after trans-continental flights, the food arrives fresh and intact.  The Walhalla Presbyterian Church served as the coordinating body for Saturday’s event and several of their members, including State Senate President Thomas Alexander, volunteered.  Among others who lent a hand were Bethel Presbyterians, St. Luke Methodists, College Street Baptists, Rotarians, and BETA Club members.  Walhalla Presbyterian Craig Boswell said he’s confident that some of the meals are bound for Sudan and Somalia, and he would not be surprised if some are sent to Ukraine.