During the week of MEA, the Notre Dame Academy faculty and staff had two Professional Development Days. On one of the workshop days, the group gathered to do a data dive into student fall test scores and discussed ways they could use the data to best serve students. They then packed up and drove to Feed My Starving Children in Chanhassen, MN.

This Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) location is so close to the NDA school community, and given same, the NDA team recommends visiting this place if it is new to you! They have a super easy way to reserve a spot to volunteer. Preregistration is required and families can sign up using this link. Students may volunteer there if they are age five or older and have an adult with them. There is even a job labeling bags for someone needing a sit-down station.

For the past several summers, NDA has used this nonprofit as a place to do our Summer Service Project. Families work in the warehouse to scoop the ingredients, bag the product, weigh the individual bags, and box it up for shipment. The mana pack is the most common product there and it consists of vitamins, dried vegetables, rice and soy protein. It is a vital resource to its recipients. Every packing session ends with prayer for those who gave of their time to prepare the meal, move it and will receive this gift. All supplies are funded through donations.

Over the course of the 90 minute commitment, the NDA team group enjoyed each other’s company while working towards a noble cause. They packed enough meals to feed 21 children for a year. WOW ~ what an honor.