250,000 Meals for 25 Years: Rise Against Hunger Celebrates BIG Anniversary With Community Meal Packaging Event
This year marks Rise Against Hunger’s 25th anniversary. That means 25 years of real impact in communities facing food insecurity, as highlighted through our Zimbabwe Celebration Series and South Africa Celebration Series shared in recent months, and 25 years of you — our Hunger Champions — coming alongside us in the work to end global hunger and making this impact possible! To celebrate this impact and recognize the integral role volunteers, donors and supporters have played in our work over the past 25 years, we came together with so many of you in Raleigh, North Carolina, this past weekend for a three-day celebration event.
The three-day community meal packaging event, which took place from November 17-19 at Rise Against Hunger’s flagship warehouse in Raleigh, kicked off on Friday night with a speech from Ray Buchanan, Rise Against Hunger’s founder. He spoke about how much the 25th anniversary means to him and how the meals packaged make an impact for children and families around the world. It was then time to make an impact together as volunteers joined us to package meals that will go on to nourish lives around the world!
Throughout the weekend, more than 1,400 volunteers worked to collectively package 250,000 meals! With families, previous Rise Against Hunger staff members, long-time supporters and new Hunger Champions all volunteering, it was truly a community event. A gong rang out for every 5,000 meals packaged during the shifts each day, reminding everyone of the impact being made together. The meals packaged this weekend will continue our impact as we work to end hunger; the meals will be distributed to communities affected by food insecurity in countries across the globe. 
On Saturday, the celebration also included a gathering at the nearby Compass Rose Brewery. Volunteers and Rise Against Hunger staff mingled and celebrated the 25th anniversary with music, food, face painting and other family-friendly activities.
It was a weekend full of fun, celebration, action and impact in recognition of our 25th anniversary. Check out the photos below for a recap of the weekend:
Thank you, Hunger Champions, for your support, both during the past 25 years and moving forward! Together, we can end world hunger. Learn more ways you can take action and make an impact by visiting our How You Can Help page.