On February 21, 2009, Mission Children's Hospital became the first children's hospital in the world to start a satellite of Kids Against Hunger, a Minneapolis-based non-profit organization that last year packaged over 20 million meals for hungry children in the U.S. and around the world.

In cooperation with Mission Healthcare Foundation, who is underwriting the start-up of the satellite and managing its finances, Mission Children's Hospital saw this program as the perfect opportunity to teach children about the unique American trait of "giving back" with your time, talents and financial support according to Children's Hospital Medical Director Susan Mims, M.D.  "Not only are we encouraging this wonderful giving trait with children but also introducing them to the services of Mission Children's Hospital and helping them learn about rewarding careers in health care during their food packaging sessions with us. On top of all those positives we are feeding hungry children too!"

Church youth groups, school groups and scout troops from throughout Western North Carolina are invited to Mission's Reuter Children's Outpatient Center two Saturday mornings a month from 9-12:30. Days must be reserved in advance.  There they mix the dry meals, that when reconstituted with boiling water, to create a nutritious soup for hungry children anywhere in the world.  Each package will serve one child for an entire week.  The packages are boxed up and then ready to be shipped overseas or locally.  While at their packaging session, the children tour the Reuter Center, see a DVD on various health careers and hear about the work of Kids Against Hunger around the world.

Even though the majority of the food packaged at Mission Children's Hospital will go overseas, a portion of these meals do stay in Western North Carolina where there are still hungry children.  Manna Food Bank distributes the meal packets for Mission in the region.   The remaining food is designated for overseas projects where local physicians, allied health professionals or other known groups are working in developing countries providing health care, shelter and food to children and adults in need.

If your group is interested in learning more about packaging food with Kids Against Hunger, please call Mission Foundation at 828-213-1020.  If you would like to contribute please click here or on the "donate now"  button and be taken to our secure webpage for contributions by credit card.