PHOTO GALLERY | Johnstown Christian School students 'Feed the Need,' pack food bags to benefit Bangladesh

For the sixth year of the charity work, bags of rice, lentils, dried vegetables and vitamin mix are being sent to Bangladesh, Head of School Celeste Sprankle said.

She said the donation location was chosen before packing began, but picking the South Asian country was timely because residents there were impacted by tremors of a 7.7 magnitude earthquake that rocked that part of the world Friday.

“Feels really good that I can make an impact on people’s lives and be a big help to everyone,” said freshman Dijon Coleman, who was part of the first group that got the work going and set the tone for the energetic event.

Coleman said the meal-packing event is always a “good environment” that’s “very joyful” and full of enthusiastic people.

Throughout the day, students, volunteers and staff often broke out in chants of “Fill the box” and “Feed the Need” as they danced and worked.

Sprankle said the students do a great job each year, and added that it’s amazing to think that 60,000 meals will have passed through the hands of the students by the end of this year’s packing.

For freshmen Oriana Yoder and Levi Diguardi, that knowledge is rewarding, and they have looked forward to Feed the Need every year since the start.

“I feel like it’s cool to just know that we have such an impact,” Diguardi said.

Yoder said that it’s fulfilling to take part in “something that matters.” She said her favorite aspect is packing and praying over the boxes before they are shipped out.

Once the school is done packing Friday, the meals will be shipped to Bangladesh Monday.

Diguardi said he enjoys celebrating the completion of each box and the energy of everyone in the room.

Dan Yoder, a volunteer and Oriana Yoder’s grandfather, commended JCS for introducing the concept of volunteerism and community service to the students, especially starting at such a young age.

“I think it’s a wonderful thing, really,” he said.