Kiski Township Eagle Scout hopeful organizes meal packing event at Gilpin church

Some families overseas won’t go hungry thanks to the work of dozens of volunteers and a Kiski Township teen.

Eagle Scout candidate Jack Rearick, 16, organized a meal packing day for Rise Against Hunger Pittsburgh.

At least 50 volunteers sorted and stored rice, soy, vitamins and dehydrated vegetables at Forks Zion Lutheran Church in Gilpin for the nonprofit Saturday morning.

Rise Against Hunger is growing a global movement to end hunger by empowering communities, nourishing lives and responding to emergencies, according to the organization’s website.

More than 66.7 million meals have been shipped worldwide and more than 4.4 million lives have been impacted since its founding 25 years ago.

Jack said he has been involved in similar packing events for the charity through the years and wanted to organize his own effort.

“I’ve always enjoyed helping to end hunger, and the events themselves are a lot of fun,” said the Apollo-Ridge 10th grader. “We got all the volunteers and donations gathered up. It’s hard work before we start starting the project going everywhere (and giving presentations to gather support), but it’s worth it.”

Jack and his team collected about $3,800 for supplies the past few months.

They ended up packing 10,152 meals in 47 boxes in about an hour.

“It’s a great time (to) finally (be) done with my Eagle project,” Jack said. “It’s a huge relief.”

Jack still needs to submit paperwork for review before formally receiving the Scouts’ highest honor.

He banged a gong held by David Maurer, event manager for Rise Against Hunger Pittsburgh, to signal the completion of the day’s work.

Rising against hunger

The boxes, each with more than 200 meals, were wrapped in plastic and hoisted onto a Rise Against Hunger truck.

Maurer could not give an exact destination for the meals. He said they can go as far as the Middle East, South America, Asia or Africa.

“Our numbers are based on whoever gets a shipping container ready and our next partner in line,” Maurer said of the delivery process.

One box is estimated to be able to feed a child throughout a school year.

“We get to go in with meals right away to school feeding programs, orphanages, hospitals (and) villages and immediately start giving food,” Maurer said. “In the meantime, we also provide sustainability.”

Rise recently finished a project in Zimbabwe where five schools cultivated gardens and worked on income-generating initiatives like raising chickens.

Maurer said it’s important for youths like Jack and others to get involved in organizations like Rise Against Hunger.

“The more people that know about it, the more people will be concerned about it,” he said. “The sooner world hunger will come to an end, and I won’t have a job, that would be great.

Maurer said on average, there’s at least 10 of these events a month out of the Pittsburgh office. Rise Against Hunger has offices all across the country and one in Italy.

Friendly support

Volunteered for Jack’s event included some folks from nearby churches, other Scout troops, the Leechburg Gilpin Lions Club, Leechburg Rotary, Apollo Lions Club, Apollo-Ridge High School Key Club and others.

Kris Geer, 17, was among Jack’s friends and fellow Troop 589 Scouts who helped out.

“He’s always been a hard worker ever since I’ve known him,” Kris said. “He’s always striving to be up above everyone. I’m older than him and he’s already surpassed me in Scouts and already almost done.

“To see him do this is just such a great thing. It’s a good feeling to be friends with someone like that, to know someone who will take time out of their Saturday and help people who need it.”

Kris said he joined Scouts because he wanted to learn more skills. He ended up making lots of friendships.

Jack’s mother, Erica Rearick, is the troop’s committee chair.

“This has always been a project very close to our hearts,” Rearick said. “I was proud and excited to be able to participate to help him reach his goal.

“I think this became a passion project for him. He fell in love with the whole dynamic of it. He fell in love with what it signified in terms of helping end global hunger. … It does my heart a lot of good.”

Rearick thanked the church for donating its space and some funds toward the project. The family is a member of Forks Zion, and Jack was baptized there.

Jack’s brother, Cole, 19, is also an Eagle Scout.