Nearly 200 Springfield High School students turned compassion into action this week, dedicating their day to fighting global hunger by packing meals for children in the South African country of Lesotho (luh-su-too).
Partnering with the Lesotho Nutrition Initiative (LNI), students set out to meet their annual goal of preparing 30,000 meals, but far exceeded expectations. In just a few hours, they packed more than 42,000 meals, marking a record-breaking effort for Springfield High School and the largest meal packing total ever achieved outside of Wittenberg University, where the initiative began.
Founded by Wittenberg students and faculty, LNI combats severe childhood malnutrition in Lesotho by providing nutrient-rich meals that not only stop the effects of hunger, but also help reverse long-term health issues caused by chronic malnutrition.
This marks the seventh consecutive year that SHS students have joined forces with LNI.
“Opportunities like this remind our students that they have impact,” said Springfield City School District Superintendent Dr. Bob Hill. “They can use their time and talents to make life better for others — not just here at home, but around the world.”