Volunteers with several area Eighth District Masonic Lodges recently hosted a meal-packing that produced 20,000 meals in one day.

The Iowa-based nonprofit contacted the Eighth District about setting up a meal-packaging event, noting that at least one in seven children in New England isn’t getting enough food. Outreach provided the packaging equipment; all the lodges had to do were pick a location and get volunteers and food.

Three packaging lines formed inside the East Lyme Masonic Lodge on Saturday, April 6, each able to produce between 1,500 and 2,000 meals per hour. Jerry Swope, a member of the meal packaging committee, had set a goal of 14,000 to 16,000 meals for the day, but volunteers packed 20,000. Meals were sent to the Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Bank in New London and Montville Social Services.

For more information, visit outreachprogram.org.

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