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Peoria kids pack meals — and lessons — to fight hunger

The Inspire Project brings kids together to help others while teaching a lasting lesson in community service

Editor's note: This article first appeared in Sun Life Magazine, a Daily Independent publication.


Inside Vistancia’s Learning Lounge, bags of canned chicken, rice, pasta, peanut butter and jelly became something more than groceries.

Children and teens gathered to assemble nutritious meal kits for families facing food insecurity, part of The Inspire Project’s “Let’s Kick Hunger” campaign. But founder Colleen McElroy designed the event to do more than collect food. She wanted young volunteers to understand why hunger increases during summer, what food banks actually need, and how seemingly random donations can be turned into complete meals.

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