Mission to the City Goes Global

Mission to the City volunteers pack meals for Meals from the Heartland. Photo by Stephanie Brandstatt.

The work of Mission to the City reaches beyond Des Moines – as far South Africa, Haiti, and the Philippines. Mission to the City groups from Walnut Creek Windsor Heights teamed up with Meals from the Heartland to pack meals that will be sent to those three countries.

“We packed 20,000 meals just this morning,” said Joel O’Dell, hunger fight manager for Meals from the Heartland. “The need is great. One in six people in the world is starving. It’s biblical to help them – we’re called to take care of our neighbors.”

Brigitte Haugen of Walnut Creek Windsor Heights said the experience was very eye-opening for her. “There are a lot of people who need food,” she said. “I’m thankful we can be part of this because it demonstrates how much we as a church care about people.”

Jon Touchette, also of Walnut Creek Windsor Heights, said he was impressed by the efficiency of Meals from the Heartland’s system, which allowed them to pack the most meals possible in the time they were there. He added that feeding the hungry is really about following Jesus’ example. “Jesus did what he taught,” he said. “It’s important to live the gospel – not just speak the gospel.”