The churches partnered with the group Stop Hunger Now which, since it was organized in 1998, has packaged almost 52.8 million meals that have gone to hungry children in 76 countries.

The churches raised $2,500 to pay for the 10,000 meals and provided the volunteers to package them.

The volunteers from the Methodist churches of Fairfax, Shawmut, Huguley, Hopewell, Langdale, Lanett and the Five Points Circuit filled bags with a set amount of rice, soy and a mixture of vitamins, after which runners took the filled bags to others who weighed them, filling in or taking out rice if needed, and passing the bags along to others who would seal them.

Stop Hunger Now shows up with all the equipment and all the supplies, shows the volunteers what and how to do it, and then steps back.

The meals they packaged would be in schools in three weeks and that kids would be eating the protein mixture within four weeks.

Each of the meal packets feeds six people, and the packets are sent to schools, where they also serve as encouragement for kids to show up and get an education.

For details on "Stop Hunger Now", see www.stophungernow.org.