SAN DIEGO — “A quick and efficient way to help so many.”
That’s how Anna Leyba, from St. Rose of Lima Parish in Chula Vista, described the Million Meal Event.
“I especially love seeing the young people here,” she said, “because it’s showing me that their families are teaching them … that we were created to serve, not to be served.”
Leyba was among the approximately 3,000 volunteers participating in the event, held June 14 at Cathedral Catholic High School. Now in its fourth year, the Million Meal Event is a charitable project spearheaded by the permanent deacons of the Diocese of San Diego, in collaboration with the nonprofit organization Kids Around the World and Catholic Charities.
The deacons asked parishes and individuals to help to pay for the raw materials for the meals, which cost $300,000. Donations can still be made at ccdsd.donorsupport.co/page/MillionMealsEvent.
During two shifts, each lasting two hours, about 150 tables of eight to 10 volunteers each worked in assembly-line fashion to produce meal packets consisting of red lentils, rice, dried vegetables and vitamins. Each packet represents six meals.
Half of the meals will be distributed to impoverished families in Tijuana, while the remainder will be delivered to Zambia.
As in past years, a DJ kept volunteers pumped up with popular music throughout the event.
Elisa Esparza, a member of Our Lady of Grace Parish in El Cajon, who volunteered alongside her grandson, saw her participation as a way of fulfilling the demands of the Christian life.
“We have to take care of each other … ‘Feed my lambs,’ right?” she said, making a Scriptural allusion.
Erwin and Emily Cena, members of The Immaculata Parish, packed meals with their two daughters, Abby and Camden.
“It’s a way for us to put into action what we pray about and what we learn about in school and church,” Erwin said.
Emily said, “It’s a fun opportunity for our whole family to do something together that’s helping folks near and far.”
Envisioning what the packaged meals might mean to those who will receive them, Daniel Romero said, “It’s nice to make someone else’s day.”
Romero, a member of St. Rose of Lima Parish and a first-time participant, attended the event with his girlfriend, Miranda Miramontes, and her family.
“It’s always nice seeing how many people come out to do this with us. … It’s nice knowing that there’s a lot of people who want to have a helping hand in this,” said Miramontes, for whom this was her third year participating.
Ascension parishioner Erika Ruelas, another returning participant, described the event as “a small thing that I can do to feel like I’m contributing the little that I can.”
“It’s really rewarding just to be here with my family, my kids and friends,” she said, “just to be able to work together, teach them the value of serving others, and just being helpful citizens of the world.”
Other participants also saw the event as instructive for the next generation.
“We like to volunteer as a family,” said Steven Rupiper, of St. Michael Parish in Poway, who attended with his wife and two children. “We want to make sure that our kids understand that it’s an important part of being a Christian and giving back to the community.”
