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Lions up food goal by 500%
by Gregory R. Norfleet · News · September 04, 2014
Forget $5,000 feeding 20,000, now the West Branch Lions Club wants to raise $25,000 and feed 100,000 people.
The group announced the 500 percent increase last week to the original goal set in April, and announced they will need three times as many volunteers to package the ingredients on the 50th anniversary of the state funeral for Herbert Hoover, known for feeding millions.
Greg Humrichouse, who spearheads the Hoover Hunger Project, said the group last week spent two days sending letters to area businesses and civic organizations to ask for donations of time and money.
“It will sure be enough for the food banks” in West Branch and Cedar County, he said. “If we have to, we’ll go to Johnson County and Linn County. The need to satisfy hunger is there.”
But that’s only half of the food. The other 50,000 packages are earmarked to go overseas to food distribution centers around the world.
The Lions Club scored a $2,500 grand from the Cedar County Community Foundation in March and planned to add $1,000 of its own money for the purpose of reaching a goal of $5,000. But Humrichouse said Hoover Presidential Foundation Jerry Fleagle suggested aiming higher — much higher. So the Lions put in $5,000 and jacked up the goal to $25,000.
The Foundation is preparing a ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of the state funeral in West Branch for Oct. 25. Hoover died on Oct. 20, 1964.
“President Hoover helped feed millions of people in his lifetime,” Fleagle said, referring to efforts that began during World War I. “This is a great chance for his hometown to continue that tradition.”
The Lions Club will need a lot of room for this project, so the club reached out to West Branch Community Schools, which is donating space in the new high school gymnasium for setting up assembly lines to mix the food packs.
Humrichouse said they need up to 150 volunteers “from 8 to 88” years old to get the work done. He added that high school students can earn Silver Cord volunteer hours for the work.
“This is a great way for anyone of any age to honor the legacy of President Hoover,” Lions Club President Mike Quinlan said.
Humrichouse said he hopes to draw a few presidential family members, too.
“And we hope Hoover’s descendants will be back (for the ceremony) and want to participate” packaging food, he said.
Financial donations will be accepted until Sept. 30 and can be mailed to Hoover Presidential Foundation, c/o West Branch Lions Club, P.O. Box 63, West Branch, IA 52358. Checks should be made out to the Hoover Presidential Foundation.
The meals cost 25 cents each, so each dollar buys four meals.
The Lions Club will take volunteers all the way up to the day of packaging, Oct. 25, though they would appreciate knowing in advance how many plan to participate by having them contact Quinlan at 631-4017 or Humrichouse at 471-0525 or greghumric@msn.com.
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