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If you are like many Americans, there is an almost one-in-five chance that your neighbors and their kids are hungry today.

That doesn’t mean, “I think I’ll make myself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich,” hungry. That means they have no food in the house.

And, if you can believe it, it’s worse in other countries.

First United Methodist Church will package meals for Rise Against Hunger global hunger relief 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 2, at the Cumberland Place building.

Denise Aludo, Chair of the FUMC Missions Team, invites the Morristown community to join the church for this “exciting, hands-on volunteer opportunity.”

“This Rise Against Hunger event is designed for all ages to participate,” Aludo said. “In past events, small children are often used as ‘runners.’ Youth and adults package dehydrated grains and vegetables into bags.”

“Adults who need or prefer a sit-down job weigh each bag, and add or remove a little rice to adjust the weight before sealing the bags,” Aludo said. “The bags (containing six meals each) are then boxed and loaded on a truck.”

Citing a 2024 report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Aludo said 13 percent of American households experience food insecurity. In households with children, the rate is 18 percent.

That’s 47 million Americans who don’t have enough food to eat.

Aludo quoted Matthew 25:35-40: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat… Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you…’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

Rise Against Hunger works in countries worldwide to fight hunger, targeting communities facing high rates of food insecurity.

They provide volunteer-packaged meals and other assistance, often through school feeding programs, to support nutrition, education, and health for children and families facing hunger right now.

Rise Against Hunger also partners with local leaders to implement sustainable agriculture and income-generating projects that support long-term solutions to food security, and empower communities to become self-reliant and thrive.

They serve 41 countries, including the United States.

In 2024, more than 281,000 Rise Against Hunger volunteers packaged 54 million meals, and fed 9 million people.

Locally, First United Methodist Church has a food pantry at the church, and a blessing box at the Crossroads building.

Nonperishable food items are needed to stock both.

All items can be dropped off at the church office from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Persons who need food assistance may contact a member of the church staff or a volunteer during the specified drop-off hours.

First United Methodist Church is located at 101 East First North Street in Morristown. To ask questions about the Rise Against Hunger event, call (423) 581-2180.