Last week, The New York Center for Interpersonal Development (NYCID) helped and raised the initiative of aiding the hungry. Together with a team from the Stop Hunger Now non-profit organization, community members, staff, and students of Staten Island’s I.S./P.S.48, we gathered at the school last week to help package over 10,000 meals that would be flown to Haiti and other countries in order to help feed those in need.

Having been sponsored by the NYCID, students who participated in this food-packing event were part of the School’s Out New York City (SONYC) after school program, which was funded by the Department of Youth. We all decided to join forces with the non-profit organization called Stop Hunger Now for this amazing event.

Students wanted to help children in other countries to which they decided on partnering with the Stop Hunger Now organization, and by doing so, the students highlighted SONYC’s leadership initiative. The students held bake sales, many fundraisers; including a bake sale and a car wash, at the school. These efforts were held in order to have a team from the Stop Hunger Now headquarters come and help with the event.

The team brought with them various packaged food items that were to be sent to the different countries, which included: rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables, vitamins and seasoning packages. Every one of the helpers were set up and worked diligently at different stations in order to help the work run smoothly. They all measured and assembled packages that held enough food and supplements to feed six people each.

At the end of the day, The New York Center for Interpersonal Development were astounded by the outstanding support and help for the event. It was a humbling and rewarding experience for all involved, knowing that we took part and lent a hand to help feed the hungry.