There are 795 million people around the world who are undernourished according to the World Food Programme. Students at Mississippi State University are decreasing these numbers package by package.
Emily Morgan, president of Feed the Hunger at MSU, believes feeding the hungry is vitally important.
“I think it’s important to fight world hunger because it exists everywhere in the world,” Morgan said. “This problem doesn’t just affect one nation or country but instead it is seen throughout the world.”
Morgan, sophomore political science and criminology major, said it only takes about $60 to feed a child for a year.
On Feb. 10-11, students have the opportunity to package food for hungry people locally, nationally and internationally. At the “Packathon” volunteers will be asked to give two hours to pack boxes filled with a nutritious meal including rice, pinto beans, a vitamin mix and dehydrated vegetables. This meal gives the hungry the correct amount of protein, carbohydrates, vegetables and vitamins.
Feed the Hunger is a national, evangelical organization that focuses on spiritual need simultaneously with physical need. The organization Feed the Hunger, based out of North Carolina, will provide the food for people to package at the Packathon and all money raised by MSU’s chapter will be given to the national organization to distribute the food to those in need. 
Feed the Hunger at MSU was approved as an organization by the Student Association in April of 2016 and currently has about 130 members. For their Packathon, Feed the Hunger’s goal is to raise $20,000 which would package roughly 171,000 meals.  
Marion Richmond, vice president of Feed the Hunger and sophomore early childhood elementary education major, said she loves being able to help those who are truly hungry everywhere.
“I feel as if it [Feed the Hunger] shows college students that they can make a difference and be apart of changing someone’s life,” Richmond said. “The people receiving the food will be overjoyed because they have nutritious food to eat and they do not have to go hungry.”
Nicholas Cobb, outreach coordinator for MSU’s chapter of Feed the Hunger, said he loves what Feed the Hunger offers those who get involved.
“My favorite thing about Feed the Hunger is that it allows us as a community to serve those in need in a tangible way, right from our own backyard,” Cobb said. “It unites people from different walks of life in the name of making a difference.”
Cobb, junior accounting major, said Feed the Hunger is a way for students to serve people all over the world while being unable to travel due to busy schedules. He said he believes volunteering with Feed the Hunger will be very beneficial to students.
“Seeing our work influence the lives of those who are really in need will push students toward giving more time to service organizations,” Cobb said. “As far as the the recipients of the food, it goes without saying how that blessing will help their situations, whatever they may be. But more than that, those people will hopefully get to experience God’s grace and love through that blessing, and that’s what’s most important.”
Morgan, who was raised in Oxford, said she attended the University of Mississippi’s Feed the Hunger Packathon for four years in high school.
“I immediately fell in love with the scene, the vibe and the good the event was doing itself,” Morgan said.
Morgan said this was when she decided she wanted to bring Feed the Hunger to MSU. As a junior in high school, she started preparing and planning what she needed to do to bring Feed the Hunger to MSU.
“It’s been a long process in the making,” Morgan said. “It’s a little piece of my heart.”
Every fall, the organization will have an interest meeting and committee applications available. The committee positions include fundraising, outreach and treasurer. 
Feed the Hunger at MSU will host its Packathon on Feb. 10-11 at First United Methodist Church in Starkville. There will be a link in the future on their Instagram account, feedhunger_msu, for people to volunteer at the event. Volunteers will sign up for two hour shifts and will receive community service hours.
“One person alone cannot solve world hunger and malnutrition,” Morgan said, “but instead people can come together and in efforts as a group make a huge impact on this issue.”