Deacons of San Diego Diocese lead the ‘One

The image shows volunteers joyfully packing meals for vulnerable people. (Photo taken for the Southerncross website)

Over 3,000 men, women, and children of faith prepared exactly one million meals for the vulnerable families across the border and worldwide on June 11 and 12 at Cathedral Catholic High School.

“It was beyond our wildest dreams,” Deacon Mike Daniels stated in his interview on The Southern Cross website.

The news reported that volunteers are energetic, arriving early to their shift and staying late despite the weather. They added that these people came from all churches in San Diego County and Catholic high schools.

Besides, they noted that 120 tables are lined up in the campus’s central courtyard, most under tents. Volunteers are enthusiastic about packing meals.

The website revealed that volunteers finished 800,000 meals on Saturday in a two-hour shift. They completed the remaining 200,000 meals on Sunday.

Moreover, they reported that nearly 50,000 meals are designated for Casa de Los Pobres. It is an organization that helps to feed the most vulnerable in Tijuana. They mentioned that the rest would proceed to Ukraine and Ecuador.

Led by Diocese’s Deacons

The website said that the diocese’s deacons arranged the Million Meal Event. It was the first huge-scale program they had undertaken.

They noted that deacons worked with Kids Around the World.

It is a group that seeks to bring God’s love to in-need children.

They achieve their goal by giving food assistance.

The news also revealed the spearhead of the said project. The deacons include Deacon Daniels and Caroline Kelner from St. Brigid Parish.

Deacon Kevin Murray from Sacred Heart Parish Coronado and Deacon James Scull from Ascension Parish also participated in the project.

Deacon Will Hollowell from Corpus Christi Parish also led the event.

The website posted that they had a challenging goal to entice 3,000 volunteers and raise $250,000 to cover the cost of food.

Kids Around the World

Meanwhile, The Kids Around the World organization also supported the historical project. Their website highlighted three worldwide programs to address young people's physical and spiritual needs.

The group provides meals and distributes gifts for kids in playgrounds, as posted on their website. They noted that they turn the Bible stories into reality by giving hope and assisting kids to experience Jesus firsthand.

One of their programs is One Meal, which works with organizations and volunteers across the U.S. They pack and distribute healthy meals to malnourished kids. The website said they provide their needs for physical and mental improvement.

Breaking Cycle of Poverty

The organization wants to break the cycle of poverty, as they noted on their website. Since 1994, with the help of its volunteers and other groups, the organization has distributed more than 47.7 million meals.

The website also reveals they have built over 1000 playgrounds and nearly 900 active story clubs. Kids Around the World has created more than 35 hope zones in three countries. They also emphasized that monthly gifts from their supporters give valuable help to sustain and expand their transformative initiatives for children suffering worldwide.

“The smiling faces are a glimpse of just how overjoyed our primary and nursery school kids are to have this fun place to play together,”-Bob Goff, the President of Love Does, stated on the website. The organization built its new playground in Uganda, and it officially opened.