21-03-2025
Bishop Heelan students pack 120,000 meals for families overseas
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — Students from Bishop Heelan had a busy day Thursday, helping feed the less fortunate for the 'Feed Just One More' project.
Students from 5th grade through 12th worked together to pack 120,000 meals, which will all be sent overseas to provide food for families. The meals include rice, veggies and more in every bag, and each bag contains six meals.
Community Action Agency of Siouxland providing food assistance to daycares
The students had an assembly line to quickly put meals together.
'There is a box number thing, and once it gets all filled out, you put it into a box and then you tape it,' 7th grade student Vivian Youngblade said.
Working efficiently was not the only thing students learned.
'It's important because it get us kids to know that helping others is a good deed, and that it really helps those that are in need,' 7th grade student Evelyn Shetler said.
The project has been part of Bishop Heelan's goal of doing community service for more than a decade.
'We came upon this about 15 years ago,' event organizer and volunteer Mary Jayne Mousel said. '[Gehlen Catholic in Le Mars] was doing it, so I went up and checked it out. I thought, we could do this at Heelan, and that's how we got started.'
Mousel says the project leaves students with a lasting impression.
Remarkable Women: Mary Jayne Mousel spreading joy in the community
'it's cool when I have alumni come back and say, 'can I come help work, because I did it as a student and I really liked it, so can I come work now as an adult?' So that's pretty cool that they come back,' Mousel said.
The meals packed at Bishop Heelan will be shipped to Honduras, along with meals packed by students at Gehlen Catholic school in Le Mars.
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