Volunteers at Lifepoint Church prepare thousands of meals for those in need

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A local church is teaming up with a national nonprofit to provide food for those in need. 

Lifepoint Church teamed up with Feed the Hunger to pack more than 25,000 meal kits. More than 200 people showed up to help pack the meals that will be sent to South Africa as part of Feed the Hunger’s ministry outreach. 

Pastor Matthew George said the event kicks off a week of community volunteering for the church known as “Love Thy Neighborhood.” 

“We go out into our communities all over Wilmington, Leland, Carolina Beach, in Porter’s Neck, and we just serve,” George said.” And so today is our rally at all of our campuses, and so we’re really excited to see what people are going to do, what God’s going to do, it’s going to be awesome.” 

Feed the Hunger Creative Manager Vincent Graves said the food goes to areas most at risk for children.  

“Our mission is that we’re trying to feed the spiritual and physical hunger in children. Especially at risk children,” Graves said. 

The kits being packed up on Saturday include beans, dried vegetables, rice, and a vitamin mix powder. The meals are designed for children who are malnourished. 

Graves added that whatever food is left over, churches will often put back in the community. 

“A lot of times when we partner with churches, they sometimes keep the food and pass it out into their community,” Graves said. 

The church said it has more than 90 volunteer projects this week, with everything from picking up trash to providing food for those in need.