Stop Hunger Now is an international hunger relief organization. Founded in 1998, the nonprofit group helps in coordinating food distribution and other lifesaving aid to people in developing nations. The organization has served 71 countries and sent out more than 224 million meals during its 19-year tenure - and Whitehall High School’s Human Rights Club is hoping to lend a helping hand to the cause.

“Stop Hunger Now focuses on helping people outside of the United States, in third-world countries that really need help,” Human Rights Club President Laura Do said. “The community and district could help benefit the lives of others overseas.”

Members of the school’s Human Rights Club and SERVE Club are hoping to raise enough funds to host a meal-packaging event inside Whitehall High School’s cafeteria. The administration has already approved the event plan; the only thing needed now is the funding behind the project.

“I was looking for a community service to get involved in,” Do, a WHS senior, said. “I was inspired by (Whitehall-Coplay Middle School teacher) Mrs. (Leah) Saliby’s Snack Pack Pals and the Whitehall (Coplay) Hunger Initiative. I wanted to do my part in helping alleviate the hunger crises, and I found Stop Hunger Now,” Do said. “I contacted the organization and eventually reached Teresa Yacono at the Stop Hunger Now branch in Philadelphia. She gave me clear instructions, including the three things we need to pull the event off - location, volunteers and money.”

The location aspect was easy for the club - the high school’s cafeteria has enough space and tables to hold the event. The volunteer aspect also was easy, as the club itself includes 30 members, while other members of the high school community have heard about the plan and have discussed collaboration as well. Knowing other members of the high school’s student body and staff would help if the event took place gave the Human Rights Club the confidence to move forward.

The only issue left is the funding.

Do decided to create a gofundme page titled #stophungerwhs, located online at gofundme.com/stophungerwhs. The students hope to raise $3,000 before the beginning of May.

“The money that we need to raise is paying for over 10,000 meals,” Do said. “Stop Hunger Now is a way we can directly help these children. It’s not blindly trusting that your donations would make it to the children. The proof that you will help the children is within the food packaging. The bags and meals are proof that one less child will be hungry. This charity can save lives.”

The senior members of the Human Rights Club and SERVE Club are hoping the event can go off as a success, cementing their final year at Whitehall for a positive cause. The futures are bright for those involved as Laura Do and Maria Tran are looking into a physical therapy major; Thach Phung will be attending Lehigh University for mechanical engineering; Jordan Saliby will be attending Boston University for biochemical engineering; Emily Yenser is looking into pharmacy, while Samantha Nino is looking into becoming a physician assistant; and Kimberly Bonhomme, Daniel Rodrigues and Gabriela Ochoa are looking into various biology majors in the hopes of going to med school after undergraduate education.

Every little bit can help the students as they look to help make the world a better and less hungry place. The donation page contains the Stop Hunger Now mission video, as well as some facts and information on the event the club plans on holding.

For more information, contact Do at lauranguyendo@gmail.com.