ABOVE: Teams of volunteers pack food at last year’s Kids Against Hunger food pack at the Fairmont Armory. This year’s event will be held Saturday, Feb. 18.

FAIRMONT– In February volunteers from across Martin County will hold two events to support Kids Against Hunger and combat food security. The first will be a variety show organized by Fairmont High School students and the second will be a large-scale food pack.

The food pack will be the larger of the two events and will be held at the Fairmont Armory on Feb. 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This year’s event aims to pack 100,000 meals and raise $30,000 in donations to help pay for ingredients and transportation.

“I feel very proud of Martin County and how they have come through in the past. This is really a huge task and they have come through every year,” said Karen Sandhurst, one of the long-time volunteers who organizes the event.

At least 300 volunteers are expected to help pack food at this year’s event. Volunteers register in teams of ten and can come from a variety of different communities across the county such as church groups, school clubs, businesses and families. This is the 14th such food pack to be held in Martin County.

Most meals prepared during the food pack have been sent to people experiencing food insecurity in other parts of the country or the world. Meals from previous years have been sent to Haiti, Honduras, and tornado victims in Kentucky. Around one tenth of meals that are prepared stay local and Sandhurst says demand from area food shelves has been increasing in recent years.

“That has been a growing need; (in 2014) when I started it wasn’t that high. It has grown now in 2023, it will be … probably over 10 percent,” said Sandhurst.

This year’s meal is a vitamin rich dish made with rice, soy, beans and a mix of flavoring. The cost to prepare each meal is less than 40 cents and once assembled the dish has a shelf life of at least three years.

While the primary beneficiaries of the event are those who will receive the food that’s prepared, participants in the food pack have said they’ve received more from the event than they’ve put in.

“We hear many volunteers say it’s a wonderful day and they have such a good feeling inside knowing that they have helped someone and offered their time and efforts to help someone they’ll never know. They will never know who that meal goes to but they’ll know they’re helping someone and (at the end) of the day that’s what makes the world go round,” said Sandhurst.

Sandhurst is still looking for five more teams to register for the event. Those interested in helping with the pack can register as a team or become a sponsor at kahfairmontmn.weebly.com or contact Sandhurst via email at kahfairmontmn@gmail.com or by phone at 507-848-1260. Those who are unable to volunteer as a team could still participate as substitutes if they email ahead of time or be at the event on the day of. Donations to the food pack are tax deductible.

Outside of the main event students have organized a variety show at Fairmont High School to help raise funds. This year’s event will feature roughly eight acts and several dozen students. Acts will include skits, group dances and musical performances. Free root beer floats will also be provided. Attendance is free to members of the public but a free will donation is encouraged.

“It’s open to all and the more people come in and support the better. It’s for a good cause,” said Abby Cihofki, a senior at Fairmont High School who’s helping organize the event.

The event will be held at 7 p.m. on Feb. 1. Previously this fundraiser has raised roughly $1,500 between free will donations and t-shirt sales.