On Saturday, August 25, 2018 – Missouri JAG Students along with Dr. Theresa L. Badgett/JAG Specialist from Jennings High School participated in the Meals for a Million co-operative food packaging event for the entire St. Louis region. The goal is to produce one million dried non-perishable meals to be distributed to starving people in the St. Louis area and international countries. Two nutritional formulas (Fortified Rice & Beans and Instant Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal) will be packaged in sealed pouches. Each sealed pouch provides a complete meal for six children (or four adults).
The cost of each meal is approximately 25 cents. JAG Students donated three hours of time and assembled 800 Instant Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal pouches which filled 25 boxes. Jennings JAG Students – Jasmine Richardson, Mia Holmes, Tionna LaRue, Maresha Perry, Doniya Pulliam ( and her mother), Makayla Woodson, Ronicia Johnson and Kenisha Williams.
There are 41.3% of all children in St. Louis live below the poverty line – that’s 135,000 kids who are at risk for hunger – enough to fill Busch Stadium three times. Meals For A Million aims to produce and distribute meals throughout Missouri to those in need. Hunger affects hundreds of thousands of Missourians. It impacts individuals, damaging personal health and deterring educational pursuits. Hunger has large-scale effects, eroding the stability of families and reducing economic security now and in the future.