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Contact: Jolene Goldade Parent Organizer Contact: |
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Media Release |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Edina Elementary School to Host Fifth Annual Edina, Minn., Dec. 11, 2008 – Highlands Elementary students know a lot about Haiti. They know that 80 percent of its residents live in poverty, making it the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. They know that children there are hungry – very hungry. And they also know that there is something they can do to improve this situation. On Dec. 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Highlands will dedicate nearly an entire day to packing meals for starving children in Haiti. This is the fifth year that Highlands has hosted an event of this caliber. The school has partnered with Kids Against Hunger (KAH), a Minnesota-based nonprofit organization that distributes nutritious meals to impoverished countries. The process is relatively simple: KAH brings in the supplies necessary to pack meals and Highlands provides the manpower. The meals are comprised of four essential ingredients that are measured by the students and packaged into meals. When mixed with boiling water, each meal turns into a fortified soy and rice casserole, containing 21 vitamins and minerals essential to a starving person’s health and survival. By assembling the meals, students become engaged in global, critical thinking. They not only learn about world hunger, they are taught to explore solutions, as well. In effort to feed even more children, Highlands is committed to sharing knowledge and resources. Schools and volunteers are often invited to observe or become a part of the event. This year, 75 students from Vista View Elementary in Burnsville will participate between 10:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Highlands hopes that people will see how easy it is to host an event and start their own tradition. Highlands has already inspired another Edina elementary school to host regular KAH events. This year, Countryside Elementary will host its second-annual event on Dec. 17. Highlands’ partnership with KAH has become an important tradition. The school was introduced to the organization in January of 2005 by parent Faith Rothberg, who was interested in packing food for the victims of the 2004 tsunami. In a little less than a month, Rothberg spearheaded an impromptu KAH visit that sent 16,000 meals to East Asia. The event was successful on all levels, and it soon became a permanent fixture in Highlands’ December winter celebration. Last year, Highlands helped pack a total of 128,642 meals for Haiti – enough meals to feed every seat in the Metrodome twice! Contact Highlands Elementary: About KAH: About Edina Public Schools: ###  |
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