Day of Action prompts work, laughter

Eight people were standing at a table in the middle of the hall at Van Orsdel United Methodist church Saturday, packaging food for people in need.

"One, two three," the team leader yelled out. "Rice!" the eight yelled in unison. That was followed by laughter.

A runner soon rushed to the table with a 50-pound bag of rice the volunteers could mix with beans to make the ready-to-eat meal.

There were about a dozen tables in the hall, each with volunteers laughing, joking and helping people in need.

The community cross-section was on hand to help United Way of Hill County in its Day of Action.

There was a healthy turnout from the Methodists and a number of Mormon missionaries.

Ten-year-old Emma Gillen was there, as was Toni Hagener, who has been volunteering for community programs for five decades before Emma was born.

City council members, such as Janet Trethewey were on hand.

It wasn't a quiet affair. People gathered to laugh and have a good time as they put together the packages.

Some were packaging rice and beans, others macaroni and cheese.

They were fortified with vitamins and minerals, said Brian Coffey, who came with Outreach from Des Moines, Iowa, to supervise the massive effort.

Coffey was the leader and cheerleader of the volunteer effort, yelling words of encouragement to the crowd and inviting volunteers to a spaghetti dinner afterwards

Coffey said he got in contact with United Way Executive Director Lorraine Verploegen, and they agreed that Havre could use the services of Outreach.

The group has provided food, water and other kinds of assistance to places around the world - ranging from Tanzania to Havre. More than 250 million meals have been prepared.

Thousands of packages prepared Saturday will go to the Havre Food Bank, which will distribute them to churches and social agencies around Hill County.

With just a little work, the food packages will make tasty, nutritious meals, Coffey said.

The food packages are easy to prepare so that people in all kinds of situations will be able to enjoy them, Coffey said.

Young people were especially happy to help out.

"This my church that I go to," said Violet Crabtree, 10. "I'm here to help people who can't afford food," a thought seconded by her partner, Emma Gillen.

"I can't believe the number of people who are going to be impacted by this," said Tina Thomas as she was preparing macaroni-and-cheese packages.

"It's great to see the number of young people," said Cynthia Bryson as she glanced over to a table with youngsters. "This will teach them the importance of volunteering."

Different denominations were on hand.

Elder Oakes, a missionary from the Church of Latter Day Saints, was at a table preparing macaroni and cheese packages.

A native of San Diego, Elder Oakes is in Havre spreading the word of his church.

"We are about community service," he said. "that's why we are here."

"We are all about happy people," said Rita Ulrich, at a table of women from Van Orsdel laughing and having a good time.

"We are here to help mankind," she said. "Besides, we won't have to sit in front of the television on a Saturday."