Chaos fills the streets. Vendors are trying to grab the attention of oncoming potential buyers, and hopefully barter with them to make a lucrative product. A 1960’s honda motorcycle weaves it’s way through the crowd as the dust kicks out of the back tire and envelopes the dirt road. A family sitting in faded adirondak chairs chat with neighbors quietly about the regime. In this small Ugandan village, mayhem is everywhere, but marginalized by the white noise is emmanual, a boy without a mother and a father who’s an alcoholic. On top of this, he’s malnourished and is about to die in a week, for he doesn’t even have the strength to move.

Sadly, Emmanuel’s plight isn’t just isolated to his village, Uganda, or even Africa. According to the UN, 18,000 children die everyday around the world due to malnourishment. These children haven’t been given a chance in life, and dreams of becoming doctors, lawyers, and scientist fade away as their bodies crumble from the lack of nutrients.

There is a way to help these kids, and Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) is one charitable organization that has done an excellent job. With each meal consisting of chicken, vegetables, soy, and rice, kids are able to get the nutrients they need to not only stay alive, but to power their brains and excel in school.

FMSC mobilepack recently came to Cannon Falls on November 19th. The mobilepack is a way for Cannon Falls residents and students to be a part of the life saving process that is helping hungry children all over the world. This humbling event lasted from 8:30 to 12:30 in the morning. At the end of all the packing, participants gathered around the 14 pallets that were created, and prayed that they would safely make it to the 277 kids that will be able to have a full hearty meal for a year. The mobilepack gets workers from different churches and student leadership groups, like National Honor Society. The St. Ansgars representative, Heather Sharp, explained why this program has been influential in Cannon Falls. “Feed My Starving Children helps empower children to do good throughout the world, and have fun shouting ‘chicken, veggie, soy, rice!’ in the meantime.”

On those busy streets of Uganda, an FMSC truck trudges through the civilian traffic, and finally halting at the school halfway down the street. Children and adults flock to the truck, helping unload the supplies. Now, Emmanuel and many other kid’s will have the food they need not only to survive, but also to thrive. These kids’ stories from now on won’t be forgotten, and just that is enough to reassure Cannon Falls kids that they helped to make a difference in the world.