Oct. 23, 2021

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The West Branch Lions Club and the Hoover Presidential Foundation are once again sponsoring the Hoover Hunger Project with a goal of making 100,000 meals for people in need. The event will be on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021 and honors the memory of the U.S.A.’s only Iowa-born President, Herbert Hoover, who was known as the Great Humanitarian and ‘feeder of the world.’

The project is a meal packaging event using materials and ingredients from the Meals of Hope organization. We first held this event in 2014 to coincide with the commemoration of the 50^th anniversary of President Hoover’s state funeral burial at the West Branch gravesite.

With generous gifts from people like you, 84,000 meals were donated to local and international food banks. Your support will help create 100,000 meals at a cost of 29 cents each.  The West Branch Lions have donated the first $5,000, so we still need about $23,000 to reach this ambitious goal. By working together, gifts from private businesses, individuals and local organizations will combine to accomplish this goal and put food in hungry stomachs. Your gifts will matter!

Another way you could help is by volunteering to assist in packaging the meals on Saturday, Oct. 23 during one of two shifts (10 a.m. to noon and noon to 2 p.m.). Your time is greatly appreciated and you’re welcome to bring your friends, neighbors and family to work as a team. The West Branch Community Schools have donated the use of the Hoover Elementary gym for this event. Feel free to take a selfie sitting next to the bronze statue of President Hoover by the northeast doors!

The West Branch Lions Club, under the direction of project coordinator Greg Humrichouse, Lion President Tony Warren, outgoing Lion President Steven Grace, and Jerry Fleagle, Hoover Foundation President, are proud to be sponsoring this event and would sincerely request either a financial donation OR any volunteer hours you or your organization can afford to contribute to such a worthy cause.

Financial donations can be sent to the Hoover Presidential Foundation (a 501(c)3 charitable foundation). Your gifts are tax deductible and should be sent c/o the Foundation, P.O. Box 696, West Branch, IA 52358. Donations will also be accepted by any of the WB Lions Club officers mentioned above and also Lions Treasurer Ed Larew.

Please contact Lion Greg Humrichouse at greghumric@msn.com or call 319-471-0525 if additional information is needed. The WB Lions Club will be reporting all businesses, organizations, individuals and groups who contribute either financially and/or with volunteer hours to local media outlets and social media as a ‘thank you’ for supporting such a worthy cause.

Your thoughtful consideration is appreciated and honors West Branch’s own President Herbert Hoover and his charitable contributions across the world. Your involvement is critical to reaching the 100,000 meal goal. What a fitting tribute to a man who committed much of his life serving needy populations. How many people can you help feed?