2012 Goal!

Verde Valley Kids Against Hunger sets

2012 goal of packaging 200,000 meals

Verde Valley Kids Against Hunger has established a 2012 goal of packaging 200,000 meals to combat starvation and hunger both locally and globally. Currently the only KAH affiliate in Arizona, the Verde Valley group already has scheduled four food-packaging events in 2012. The first event of the year will be with the Verde Valley Christian Church Youth PULSE group Jan. 28, 10 a.m. to noon, at the Vineyard Christian Church on Zalesky Road.

Other planned events will take place: 

• Feb. 11 with One America Financial Planners at the La Casa De Christo Lutheran Church in Scottsdale.

• Feb. 24-25 with Prescott Seniors Straight from the Heart organization.

• March 3 with Flagstaff Thrivent.

Verde Valley Kids Against Hunger also plans to do at least three more major food-packaging events, with tentative dates of March 30-April 1, April 27-29, June 1-3 and Sept. 28-30. The group is soliciting the help of volunteer organizations to help with these events. Groups wishing to participate should contact the local KAH director, Karen Freeman, or its president, Kim Gould, at 928-649-5772 or kahverdevalley@gmail.com.

In its first year of operation, Verde Valley Kids Against Hunger packaged 67,176 meals with 28,512 already distributed to families in Gonaives, Haiti. In addition, the organization distributed 1,723 meals to an orphanage in Mexico and 2,376 meals to local food banks in Cornville, Beaver Creek, Old Town Mission, Arizona Central Food Bank and Hearts for the Hungry and Homeless. KAH currently has more than 28,000 packaged meals awaiting distribution.

For more information on Verde Valley Kids Against Hunger, visit www.kahverdevalley.com or follow the organization on Facebook and Twitter.