When a fierce blizzard hit the northeast coast in 1888, Angus Macdonald and his coworkers not only kept the lines of communication open between Boston and New York, they also trudged through the snow to bring food to travelers stranded on a train.
In that Pioneering spirit of service in our 100th year, we're planning a Pioneers International Centennial Project focused on hunger that will unite Pioneers across North America and fulfill our mission to effect immediate, tangible change in our communities. Hunger is increasing at an alarming rate and today one in eight people can't afford the food and groceries they need - a 50% increase since 2006. And hunger is especially prevalent among children.
As part of the Pioneers Centennial year, we will be encouraging all Pioneers units to participate in a fall weekend project to address the acute hunger issue - whether it be holding a healthy food drive, volunteering at a soup kitchen or delivering meals to ill or elderly shut-ins - the Pioneers International Centennial Project will underscore the need for nutritional foods that provide hungry people with healthy, balanced meals. As the year progresses, we will be sharing more details with you as they become available.