Over 21,000 Meals Packed By McLean School For Ukrainians

MCLEAN, VA — Last week, McLean's Potomac School provided over 21,000 meals headed to Ukrainians displaced during the Russian invasion.

The service project was organized by the school's Parent Association Service Learning Committee and Upper School students in the school’s Global Perspectives and Citizenship program. Students in the two-year Global Perspectives and Citizenship concentration take a close look at global issues, including food security around the world. The Ukrainian conflict was in the front of their minds, leading parents and students to seek a meal-packing effort.

"This event is particularly meaningful for those of us in [Global Perspectives and Citizenship] because we have examined case studies about food insecurity and researched transnational organizations such as NATO and the UN, often seeing things from a statistical perspective," said junior Ali O'Brien in a news release. "But this event gives us an opportunity to think about the people behind the numbers, the people this food will help."

The school partnered with nonprofit The Outreach Program to coordinate the meal packing. Meals of rice and beans were packed by members of the Potomac School community before international relief agency Convoy of Hope picked up the meals last week. The meals will be distributed to displaced Ukrainians who fled to border countries.

"Our volunteers spoke about feeling a sense of community and purpose in being able to play a small part in addressing the critical needs faced by the Ukrainian people," said ACE Everett, Potomac School's director of K-12 service learning. "It was also wonderful for everyone to see the sophomores and juniors from the GPAC program serving as such terrific role models for our community."