On February 16, National Honor Society (NHS) took a field trip to Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) in Libertyville, IL. FMSC provides meals to children who do not have the daily resources to receive a sufficient amount of food. While helping at FMSC, the volunteers packed food consisting of rice, soy, vitamins and dried vegetables. Once these packages arrive to their destinations around the world, they only need to be boiled with water and are then ready to eat. FMSC mainly helps countries in South America and Africa, but has also impacted counties in Europe and Asia when in need.

The field trip NHS took was a part of their service project for semester two. NHS normally helps out at Treat the Streets in October or hosts a dodgeball tournament to raise money for the society. However, because NHS already had the funds they needed for the upcoming induction ceremony this year, they decided to help a nonprofit organization to give back to the community.

“After calling Antioch my home for so long, I have always wanted it to be a great place to live,” senior and NHS President Teresa Furlong said.

Along with the importance of giving back to her community, Furlong emphasizes the importance of giving back to different countries as well.

“I like Feed My Starving Children because you can give back globally,” Furlong said. “It is not something you have the opportunity to do everyday.”

Not only is FMSC helping children all over the world through their service, but it is a fun way to volunteer. After arriving at FMSC, the volunteers were assigned a country name, normally one that would benefit from the food being donated. During the volunteer period, it is that country’s goal to pack as many boxes of food as possible. Once a box is completely packed, the group members all chant and scream to let other groups know they have finished another box. The atmosphere promotes excitement towards service and it is a fun way to help others that are less fortunate.

“Working with all of my friends was really fun,” senior Emily Voykin said. “I loved that we could see how many children’s lives we impacted in the end.”

After the day of packing boxes and chanting was finished, the group regrouped together to go over the numbers. During the two hours NHS spent at FMSC, they packed 229 boxes, surpassing their goal of 160. This amount of boxes provides 49,464 meals, feeding 135 children daily for an entire year.

“Over everything, I think it’s important to spread the love to help others,” Voykin said. “Just in the few hours we spent at Feed My Starving Children, we were able to help out so many people, and that’s what’s most important.”

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