As part of National FFA Week (February 21–28), FFA members from Washington, Sullivan, St. Clair, Union and New Haven came together to make an impact on Monday, February 23 - packaging 52,000 servings of food for families in need across Franklin County.

Working side by side for two hours in the lower level of the Elk’s Lodge in Washington, students formed an assembly line to measure, seal, and box nutritious meals that will be distributed to local food pantries. The event combined service, teamwork and leadership - all core pillars of the FFA (Future Farmers of America) mission.

The meal-packing event was conducted in partnership with Meals of Hope, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting food insecurity.

Meals of Hope provides the ingredients, packaging supplies, and organizational support needed to host large-scale meal-packing events. The pre-measured meals - typically consisting of rice, soy protein, dehydrated vegetables and a vitamin blend - are designed to be nutritious, easy to prepare and shelf-stable for distribution to families facing food insecurity.

Unlike many national meal-packing efforts, the meals packaged through Meals of Hope events stay in the local community. The 52,000 servings prepared by area FFA members will be donated directly to Franklin County food pantries, ensuring that the impact of the students’ work benefits neighbors close to home.

Washington FFA alumni members provided lunch for participants, allowing students to refuel and connect during the service project.

National FFA Week celebrates the positive difference FFA makes by developing students’ leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. This collaborative service effort reflected those values in action - demonstrating that FFA is not only about agriculture, but also about community service and servant leadership.

Photos from the event are below.