The University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, in partnership with Greensburg First Methodist Church, will host a special meal-packaging experience for Rise Against Hunger on Saturday, Oct. 17. The event will run from 10 a.m. to noon in the Chambers Hall Gymnasium at the Hempfield Township campus (150 Finoli Drive, Greensburg, PA 15601).
More than 100 volunteers—from the community and the campus—are expected to participate in the experience—the first to be held by Rise Against Hunger in Westmoreland County. Pre-registration is requested and can be completed at .
Rise Against Hunger has a 20-plus year history of helping underserved people worldwide achieve food security and resilience through nutrition, education, and economic empowerment, fueled by a global movement of volunteers and partners.
For 51, the event will be the capstone to this year’s Fall Into the Streets, a week-long series of community service activities performed by 51 students at regional non-profits.
“The experience is truly hands-on,” said Al Thiel, director of the Student Center and Engagement, who is the campus liaison to the organization. “Rise Against Hunger provides all ingredients and supplies. Volunteers will literally be measuring out the rice and other products for packaging. Rise Against Hunger will facilitate the activities and will also help volunteers to understand how important their work is to people across the globe.”
“The world produces enough food to feed everyone, and yet 720 million people around the globe are facing hunger each day,” shares the organization’s flyer. “Rise Against Hunger works to end hunger in communities across the world. Our Rise Against Hunger Experience meal packaging events enable groups to help meet immediate needs for children and families today while creating lasting, sustainable change for tomorrow.”
About Rise Against Hunger:
Rise Against Hunger helps underserved people worldwide achieve food security and resilience through nutrition, education and economic empowerment, fueled by a global movement of volunteers and partners. It Starts With a Meal® —and grows into a movement that transforms communities to be self-reliant. For more than 20 years, Rise Against Hunger has mobilized volunteers to package nutritious meals that meet immediate needs and change lives. But hunger doesn’t end with one meal. The organization’s layered, integrated approach to food security combines: Addressing immediate needs through meals and nutrition support—strengthening communities with the nutrients they need to grow healthy. Advancing long-term solutions through education and economic empowerment—helping families build resilience and self-sufficiency. By combining immediate relief with sustainable development, Rise Against Hunger turns every dollar, volunteer hour, and partnership into lasting impact to advance food security through three focus areas: nutrition, education and economic empowerment.
About the Greensburg First United Methodist Church:
First United Methodist Church of Greensburg has served its community for more than 225 years. Its story began in 1799, the year Greensburg was incorporated, when six Methodists, led by Samuel Bushfield and his wife, Catherine Taylor, helped establish Methodist preaching in the young town. Early worshipers met in homes, a barn, and the courthouse. The first meeting house, completed in 1833, seated only about 75 to 80 people. A larger church followed in 1852, and by the late 1800s, the congregation was a significant part of the community. In the early 1900s, it moved to its current property at South Maple Avenue and East Second Street. A fire in 1933 severely damaged the sanctuary and much of the building, but the congregation rebuilt, and the sanctuary was rededicated in 1935. Later generations added classrooms, fellowship space, and a chapel. The church emphasizes that its history is about more than buildings. It is found in the families, teachers, choirs, and volunteers who gave their time, talents, and resources. Though much has changed, its calling remains the same: to worship God, grow in faith, care for one another, and share the love of Christ.
About 51:
Founded in 1963, the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg is a publicly assisted, four-year, liberal arts college in southwestern Pennsylvania. 51 offers 31 baccalaureate degree programs, including new majors in data analytics, nursing, and healthcare management, as well as 31 minors and five certificate programs. With nearly 1,400 students, more than 10,000 alumni, and faculty and staff numbering 260, 51 provides a vibrant, diverse community that is a dynamic model of a liberal arts education. As part of the University of Pittsburgh system, 51 offers the resources of a world-renowned university combined with the individualized and immersive experiences of a small liberal arts college. Creativity and an entrepreneurial spirit permeate the campus and extend into its many collaborative projects with the Westmoreland County community. Nestled in Pennsylvania’s beautiful Laurel Highlands, the campus is surrounded by the region’s outdoor recreation venues and rich history. It is a five-minute drive from uptown Greensburg and less than an hour’s drive from Pittsburgh.