More Than 285,000 Meals Packed in Rosemount for Haitian Refugees, Cash Donations Needed For Shipping

The assembly lines were packed, and so were 285,000 meals to feed Haitian refugees living in the Dominican Republic.

Rosemount Elementary School and Rosemount Middle School were home to an event Saturday when 1,500 community volunteers turned out for a drive known as Feeding Families. They packed a nutritous, non-perishable soy and rice combination into plastic bags, and then into boxes.

"The food is packed, but help is still needed," stated the City of Rosemount website.

Cash donations are still needed to send the packed food to the Dominican Republic. The goal was to raise $71,000 for food supplies and shipping.Donations will also help provide life skills training and medical attention to those receiving the food. Click here to donate.

The event was the brainchild of OneRosemount, an organization consisting of Rosemount leaders: local pastors, the mayor, city officials, and principals of schools. In its first major endeavor, the organization teamed with St. Louis Park-based ImpactLives for the event.

"The purpose was to connect with each other and discuss how as leaders in Rosemount, they could be more intentional and proactive in making a positive difference in the lives of children and teens in the community, together," stated a description of the OneRosemount group on its website. The group began four years ago, originally named Rosemount Leaders Group.

Childhood Hunger
Every day, 31,000 children around the world die from hunger-related causes. 

"We can make a difference," stated the OneRosemount Feeding Families website. "With multiple 10-person assembly lines, we can package a nutritious rice/soy mixture to provided 285,120 meals (one full container) to be shipped to the Dominican Republic and save lives!"

March Food Campaign
A second effort by the group is encouraging the community to participate in the state's March campaign, Minnesota Food Share Month. The statewide food-drive challenge sets goals for local food drives. Depending on the amount of food donated by the community, the program will "match" or add to the donations.

Dakota County's goal is 10,000 pounds of non-perishable foods. Cash donations are also welcome at food shelves.