June 16, 2008 issue
MCC's mobile canner completes its 61st year
By Cathryn Clinton Mennonite Central CommitteeAKRON, Pa. — Mennonite Central Committee’s mobile meat canner completed its 61st year of operation in April. The season yielded more than 550,000 cans of meat to ship to hungry people around the world.
Crew members were Josh Voth of Goessel, Kan.; Viktor Schwendich of Huenfeld, Germany; Eric Thomas of East Petersburg, Pa.; and David Martens of Winkler, Man.
The season began in October and ended in April. The crew traveled to 13 states and two Canadian provinces, working with volunteers to can 954,909 pounds of meat.
In August, survivors of an earthquake in Peru received 39,360 cans of meat. After a flood in February, 9,600 cans of meat were sent to Mozambique.
In addition to emergency relief, orphaned and abandoned children, displaced people and those in specialized work programs receive the meat. These efforts promote better nutrition and build relationships between people as they work together.
The project is a cooperative event with many volunteers giving their time. In February, a small team of these canning volunteers visited Burundi to see how people are using the canned meat. After a war there, the economy was devastated, and the environment was seriously damaged. Only 4 percent of the original forest remained.
Help Channel Burundi developed a project that provides work in tree nurseries. Workers are paid with canned meat. MCC partners with HCB in this effort.
Tim Friesen, canning coordinator, said the people of Burundi asked the visitors to continue this project because there is not enough money to purchase food such as the canned meat.
This past year MCC shipped more than 1 million pounds of turkey, pork and beef to food relief projects in 21 countries.
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