Time, Talent ... Tanzania!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is this "food-packaging event"?
On Sunday, October 12th, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm, St. Bart's will host an event to package 50,000 servings of fortified vegetarian, rice-soy, chicken-flavored casserole meals made from several bulk ingredients - rice, soy protein, vegetables, vitamins and chicken flavoring.
- Where does the food come from?
St. Bart's is teaming up with the Poway-based charity Friends & Family Community Connection (FFCC), who works with the international aid organization Feeding Children International, to purchase bulk ingredients & packaging supplies. FFCC provides the food and equipment; we provide the labor.
- Who gets the food?
FFCC distributes a portion of the food to the hungry right here in San Diego through the Salvation Army, through homeless shelters, and through the Poway and Escondido school districts. The rest is distributed to starving children and families in Tanzania, Africa.
- Why Tanzania?
Because Tanzania is a peaceful nation that is ravaged by three natural evils -- drought, typhoid and HIV/AIDS. Over half the nation is under the age of 18, and one in every eight of these children is orphaned. That means that 2.5 million kids live without parents in a country of only 40 million people.Tanzania is also a nation that faces its problems and welcomes international aid, and it greets mission and relief teams with open arms.
- Why FFCC?
Because FFCC is a 501(c)(3) charity founded by fellow Christians and based right here in Poway. FFCC has extensive experience in feeding and ministering to the needy. It has hosted 12 of these events and has packaged well over ONE MILLION meals. FFCC has also made three relief trips to Tanzania and recently sent 23 youth and adults from the Poway area to work in the country.
• How do we package 50,000 meals in three hour?
A good old-fashioned assembly line. We'll have 18 tables staffed with six people each (108 people total for each one-hour shift) to fill meal packets with the ingredients for six meals (servings). A group of 8-10 people will continuously refill the bulk-ingredient bins at these tables. Another group of 4-6 people will carry the filled meal packets to a sealing-and-weighing station, where 24 people will weigh and adjust the contents of each bag to ensure proper weight and another 24 people will seal the weighed bags. Another group of 8-10 people will sort the sealed packets into bundles of 36 and place each bundle into a box. A final group of 8-10 people will stack the boxes on pallets and load the pallets onto a truck as they are filled. With this process, a group of 175 people can package approximately 20,000 meals per hour. A fully-staffed event will easily exceed 50,000 meals in three hours.
- How much does all of this cost?
The cost to prepare one meal and ship it to Tanzania is approximately 25 cents, or $12,500 total for all 50,000 meals. We are looking to raise these funds from a wide variety of sources, including the friends, families and neighbors of St. Bart's.
- How can I help?
(1) Join us for one (or more) of the one-hour shifts in the St. Bart's parking lot onthe afternoon of Sunday, October 12. Everyone of all ages can help; there isa job for everyone!
(2) Sponsor those who are packaging the food. $10 purchases 40 meals and ships them to Tanzania. $50 provides food to 200 people. Please make checks payable to FFCC San Diego.
(3) Help set up the event the morning of October 12th or help clean up that evening.
(4) Lend supplies (tables, canopies, extension cords, etc.) for October 12th
- .How do I sign up?
(1) Visit our table on the St. Bart's patio now through the end of August.
(2) Contact John David Cowart at ccowart@san.rr.com or (858) 780-8881.
(3) Contact the St. Bart's office.
For more information, contact JD Cowart at ccowart@san.rr.com or (858) 780-8881