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SLO Native Making a Difference and Feeding a Need in the Community

The first time that Lauren Persall, owner of the Ferrini Square Dream Dinners, heard about the “Fight Against Hunger” meal-packaging events, she immediately felt inspired to bring the idea to San Luis Obispo.

“There is no greater feeling than knowing you are making a difference within your community,” Persall said. “The mission of Dream Dinners’ Living The Dream Foundation, along with the work of the Friends and Family Community Connection (FFCC), really touched me at my core. It is difficult to formulate the words to appropriately express how important it is to me to help others. It is simply a part of my soul. “

With that passion for service in mind, Persall took it upon herself to organize the San Luis Obispo area’s very own “Fight Against Hunger” event. The event, which will include the packaging of 50,000 meals, will take place on Saturday, Oct. 1, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and will be held in the newly built Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo Warehouse on Kendall Road.

The Food Bank Coalition will receive 15,000 of the 50,000 meals; the remainder will be transported abroad to Tanzania. Persall is excited to be partnering with the local food bank as a way of giving back to the local community.

“Our community loves everyone, we live for always putting others in front of our own needs,” Persall said. “I am honored to be working with the Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo and to rally my community around its mission of ensuring every person has adequate access to nutritious food.”

During the event, volunteers will assemble food packages that have been scientifically designed to reverse the effects of malnutrition and starvation. The meal packages will provide healthy, non-perishable meals for local and international food insecure communities.

Organizers are currently looking for nearly 500 volunteers to help with meal packing as well as donors to help support the purchase of needed supplies. Businesses, churches, and individuals can also get involved by joining the effort as sponsors and donors. Sponsorship opportunities include a variety of benefits and range from a single box donation ($54) that feeds 216 people to a $5,000 donation that would feed 20,000 people. Gift basket donations for the Thank You Party raffle are also being sought.

“No matter who you are, volunteering just a few hours of your time will help to provide wholesome, healthy meals which will allow families to come together around the dinner table,” Persall said. “The more we volunteer and come together, the more we take care of ourselves and each other.”

Individuals interested in volunteering, or in making a donation, should contact Dream Dinners storeowner Lauren Persall at (805) 786-4852 or [email protected]. Additional information about the San Luis Obispo Dream Dinners “Fight Against Hunger” event can be found online at www.livingthedreamfoundation.com.

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