Peru, Nebraska - The day after moving onto campus, the class of 2022, Peru State College's newest students, gathered for a service project to benefit Omaha Against Hunger. The students were able to pack 31,104 meals on Saturday.

Emily Oestmann (Johnson, NE) said, “It was a great and easy way to get involved. The people in charge were motivating and excited to have us."

"I could tell they really wanted to make a difference and they inspired all of us as well," Oestmann continued, "It made for a very fun and wholesome atmosphere.”

Dr. Matthew Thielen, dean of student life, adds, "The students who participated in this event did a great job working as a community and understanding the importance of what it means to give back to others.”

Students are shown in gloves, aprons and hairnets.

Students working in the Al Wheeler Activity Center.

Omaha Against Hunger is a volunteer-driven effort to package and distribute a highly nutritious dry food formula around the world through feeding programs, orphanages, schools and clinics. Locally, the meals are distributed through food pantries and food banks.

OmahaAgainstHunger.org writes, "The meal ingredients are formulated by food scientists to provide a rich source of easily digestible protein, carbohydrates, and vitamins needed by an undernourished child’s body and mind. The food is also acceptable to the broad diversity of ethnic tastes and religious differences around the world."

The students are wearing gloves, aprons and hairnets.>

Students working to fill meal packaging.

Daniel Jensen with Omaha Against Hunger thanked everyone involved including the loading and unloading crew. The loading and unloading crew included Dylan Andersen (Thedford, NE), Austin Connot (Allen, NE), Noah Kasbohm (Nebraska City, NE), Jaylon Sapho (Kansas City, MO), Riley Holstine (Mound City, MO) and Dan Boshart (Wood River, NE).

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