Ridge High Wake Up Club Packs 10,000 Meals with Stop Hunger Now

The Wake Up Club is a group from Ridge High School whose main focus is to raise awareness for world issues and to help to contribute to solving the issues. The club was started just two years ago, meets bi-weekly and has focused on issues such as poverty, diseases in third world countries, gender equality, and hunger.  "During our second year since starting the club, we wanted to do something that was really impactful and also let more people in the school and community know who we are," said Alex Esposito. Co-Presidents and founders Hunter and Alex Esposito set a goal for the 2015-2016 school year to pack 10,000 meals in a meal packing event. To be able to run the event with Stop Hunger Now, club members had to raise $2900.  Thankfully a major snow storm in January provided an opportunity for club members to shovel driveways to raise a large portion of the money.  Club members also held a bake sale and asked local businesses to make donations to reach the $2900 goal.  Hunter Esposito said "At times it seemed we wouldn't reach the goal, but we were relentless in our efforts because we knew we were helping other children. The officers in the club really pulled together to make this happen."

Each day 21,000 people die of hunger in the world. The club chose Stop Hunger Now because the non-profit group works through education and schools in other countries to provide meals to children.  By providing a good meal each day during school, Stop Hunger Now knows this encourages children to attend school which in turn can help end poverty and hunger. 

On June 6th, the Ridge High Wake Up club officers  (Kevin Zhao, John Vilade, Juan Paez, Kyle Feigenwinter, Ryan Beaudet) and thirty-five volunteers spent three plus hours packing meals made up of rice, dried vegetables, dried protein powder, and vitamin packets.  "With energizing music playing, we formed an assembly line and ensured high quality standards throughout the process," said Alex Esposito.  The club wishes to thank the following local businesses who contributed to funding the event:  Stop and Shop Lyons Mall (Gold Sponsor), Robert Howarth DDS (Silver Sponsor), Gerald A. York Opticians (Bronze Sponsor) and Mellas Orthodontics (Bronze Sponsor).  The meals packed during the event were shipped to Haiti to help school children.  Next year, the club looks to increase their goal by holding two meal packing events. 

To learn more about Stop Hunger Now organization and their goals, please access their website: http://www.stophungernow.org.