COURTLAND
Upper School students at Southampton Academy on Monday put together nearly 16,000 meals that are headed to developing countries.

Multiple tables were set up in the gymnasium assembly-line style.

One set of student would add in each plastic bag a scoop of rice, another of soy and a third of dehydrated vegetables. A packet of vitamins was included in each bag.

Another group would weigh the contents ensuring they met the requirements of the sponsoring charity Rise Against Hunger, which is based in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Each bag was heat-sealed and passed onto another set of students who would label, date and package the meals into boxes for shipping.

Debbie Johnson, who helped to coordinate the project, said the students were originally going to do just 15,000, but then asked to take on some more, to which they agreed. The total came to 15,984 meals.

Prior to this event, the Student Government Association sponsored fundraisers, such as selling donuts or T-shirts. Community donors also contributed to help fund the participation.