Gather your friends, family, neighbors and coworkers and come pack One Million Meals with Kids Against Hunger United (KAH) to send to our neighbors in need. On Martin Luther King Day, January 15, 2024, KAH will be hosting a pack-a-thon at The Drexelbrook in Drexel Hill from 8am-10pm. Their goal is to have over 2000 people join them in this endeavor!
Longtime Broomall resident and Realtor Heather Griesser LaPierre has always been passionate about food insecurity. She started the organization in August 2015 out of the basement of her home as a way to give back to the community and to help those struggling to put food on their tables. KAH is a national organization with over 40 U.S. locations and two in Canada. Each satellite is their own independent 501c3 organization. Heather serves not only on the board of directors of the national organization but also as Founder and Executive Director of KAH United which is located right here in Broomall on Sussex Blvd.
In 2019 the organization moved from West Chester Pike in Broomall to a 5,000 square foot warehouse on Sussex Blvd where the old Sussex gym was. KAH United’s mission is to feed the hungry through food sharing, advocacy and community engagement. From 2019-2021, KAH United partnered with Philabundance to provide all the meals for their backpack program. Every month they packed between 8,750-14,040 backpacks which were all distributed locally to schools with undernourished children. In eight years, they have packed and distributed over 10 million meals with 90% of those meals staying local, all with the help of thousands of volunteers.
Donations enable KAH to provide their own brand of ultra-nutritious dry packaged meals. KAH meals include international rice, fiesta rice and apple cinnamon oatmeal. Each meal costs .30 and each package provides six nutritionally complete servings. The meals are simple to prepare, easily digestible and a rich source of protein, carbohydrates, and vitamins. Without the support of donors and volunteers none of this would be possible. KAH United hosts several packing events each week for the community to come in and volunteer. Some of those are private sponsored events and some are open packing for our community.
Additionally, due to the growing need of food in our own community, Heather also opened a food pantry in January 2023 that serves all Marple Newtown. The KAH United Pantry collects canned goods, non-perishables, pet supplies, toiletries, feminine products and paper products. “Wherever there is a need we always do our best to fill it, whether it’s shipping food internationally, across the world, or right here in our community we are always ready to do our part to help put food on the tables of those that need it,” said Heather.
If you are looking for a service opportunity for MLK Day please consider helping KAH pack 1 MILLION MEALS. Volunteers can pick a 2-hour shift, starting from 8am-10pm and may build a table of 11 or come solo. All must purchase a ticket for entry which helps cover the cost of the meals packed that day. To reserve a full table, please purchase 11 tickets. KAH is also looking for a 50-pound crew for those who are able to lift 50 pounds and can refill bins during their shift. “It will be a high energy, family friendly, fun day!” Heather said. “Bring your family, friends and colleagues to help us pack meals to send to our neighbors in need, both near and far!” Information and the link to sign up for the Million Meals packing event can be found on the Kids Against Hunger United Facebook page.