RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA — More than 150 Santa Margarita Catholic High School faculty and staff members packaged more than 22,000 meals to send to Africa as part of a recent service retreat to help end hunger.
The retreat was a joint effort with the organization Stop Hunger Now and Catholic Relief Services.
Deacon Guillermo Torres, the Director of Hispanic Ministries for the Diocese of Orange, spoke about the issue of hunger to the faculty and staff members following a morning Mass.
“Sometimes it’s hard to feel like we’re making a difference when we don’t get to physically see the people who will be affected by our service,” said Deacon Guillermo. “But I assure you the work you’re doing today is going to change someone’s life. Every time you collaborate in solidarity with the poor you are giving life.”
Participants assembled the food packages at several stations in the school’s gym, where the materials were distributed, weighed and loaded. The food was earmarked for Catholic Relief Services centers in Burkina Faso, one of the five poorest countries in the world. Gift cards and cash also were collected for distribution to the Loaves and Fishes homeless shelter in Santa Ana.