ODELL, Neb. -- Volunteers in Odell put together and packed nearly 60,000 meals Monday.

The event was supported by Orphan Grain Train, which distributes meals internationally, as well as Mercy Meals Blue River.

This event has been going on for 10 years in Odell and has been a popular case for volunteers to come work. 

“And then when it moved here 10 years ago, we had the opportunity to produce 50,000 meals here in Odell. And, that would be exactly 10 years ago, 2013, and people liked it so much, we had 200 volunteers there and so we have been doing this every year," said Pastor Greg Stuckwisch. “And each year we do it, we try to shoot for around 50-to-60,000 meals.”

Volunteers would work two-hour shifts at the Odell Community Building from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The nutrients, grains and rice would be put into packages and sealed before being boxed up and sent away to areas in need.

“But Orphan Grain Train has delivered to, recently, some to Ukraine and the Eastern Bloc countries in Europe. Africa gets a lot of them and the Navajo Indian Reservation in New Mexico would receive these,” said Stuckwisch. “The first shipment of mercy meals actually went to the Philippines, to orphanages there. And so, it really goes around the world to whoever may need it.”

Stuckwisch said that all of the money has been raised by the community to support this event. 

“We actually raised the money in order to buy the product that we buy, and then we also have the volunteers come and pack it,” said Stuckwisch. “So it is kinda two sided, we don’t get the money from anywhere else. And so, really, if you wanna support, it helps feed starving people.”

The town of Odell will be doing another food packing event on President’s Day, Feb. 19.