Twin Cities Aims for 1M Meals in FMSC's 10th Pack at the Park Event

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – May 01, 2026 – For two days this June, the familiar crack of the bat and roar of the crowd at Target Field will be replaced by the rhythmic hum of a different kind of teamwork. Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) has officially opened registration for its 10th annual Pack at the Park event, a massive community effort on June 10-11 with an ambitious goal: to pack one million life-saving meals for children facing hunger across the globe.

The Christian nonprofit is calling on 3,000 Twin Cities residents to fill the stadium, not as spectators, but as active participants in a decade-long tradition of local generosity with a profound global impact. The event marks a significant milestone, building on a legacy that has already seen local volunteers pack over 6.3 million meals at this single event over the past nine years.

A Decade of Dedication at the Diamond

For ten years, the Pack at the Park event has transformed a section of the iconic baseball stadium into a high-energy, purpose-driven packing facility. It’s a testament to the sustained commitment of a community consistently ranked among the nation's most generous. Recent studies have placed the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area at the top for volunteerism among large U.S. cities, while Minnesota frequently ranks in the top five states for both volunteer rates and charitable giving.

This deep-seated culture of service is the engine behind FMSC's success in the region. "For a child facing hunger, a single meal can change everything," said Barb Shimshock, Vice President of Development at Feed My Starving Children, in a statement. "For 10 years, this community has shown up at Target Field and turned compassion into action with their own two hands. Now, we are asking 3,000 of our neighbors, coworkers and friends to do it again and help us reach a goal we can only achieve together."

The one-million-meal target for the 10th anniversary represents a significant increase over the event's previous annual average of roughly 700,000 meals, reflecting both the growing need and the organization's confidence in the community's capacity to respond.

The Science and Strategy of a Single Meal

Behind the volunteer effort is a carefully designed strategy to combat malnutrition. Each meal packed is a testament to nutritional science and operational efficiency. FMSC produces three distinct MannaPack® formulas developed by food scientists to meet the specific needs of malnourished children. The primary formula, MannaPack Rice, is a blend of rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables, and a vitamin-and-mineral powder that provides key nutrients for physical and cognitive development.

Other specialized formulas include MannaPack Potato-D, designed to help those suffering from diarrheal diseases, and MannaPack Potato-W, a weaning food for infants. All meals are vegetarian and halal-certified to be culturally acceptable in the more than 100 countries FMSC serves. This meticulous approach is delivered with remarkable efficiency. The organization reports that each meal costs less than 30 cents to produce, a figure made possible by its vast volunteer network and streamlined operations.

This operational excellence has earned FMSC consistent high marks from independent evaluators. For 20 consecutive years, Charity Navigator has awarded the organization a 4-star rating for its financial health, accountability, and transparency. Reports indicate that approximately 88 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to feeding programs, a figure that assures donors and volunteers that their contributions are making a direct impact.

From Minneapolis to the Middle East: A Global Lifeline

The meals packed at Target Field are a critical lifeline for children in some of the world's most vulnerable regions. The context for this year's event is particularly stark. The 2025 Global Report on Food Crises noted a sixth consecutive year of increases in acute food insecurity, with hunger on the rise in Africa and Western Asia. FMSC specifically directs its aid to such hotspots, including Sudan, Haiti, and parts of the Middle East, where conflict, climate change, and economic collapse have created dire humanitarian situations.

FMSC's distribution model relies on a network of trusted partner organizations embedded within these communities. This ensures that the food aid, over 99% of which arrives safely at its destination, is part of a broader, long-term strategy. The meals are used in schools, clinics, and orphanages to not only alleviate immediate hunger but also to encourage education, support health initiatives, and empower communities to move from relief to sustainable development.

More Than a Game: The Call for Community Action

As registration opens, the focus returns to the one variable that makes it all possible: the volunteers. FMSC invites people of all ages (five and up) and abilities to sign up for two-hour packing shifts. Individuals, families, and corporate teams will work side-by-side at long tables, measuring ingredients, sealing bags, and boxing up meals in a collaborative environment where the impact is immediate and tangible.

This event builds on the momentum of FMSC's recent global milestone of shipping five billion meals since its founding in 1987. It is a powerful local expression of a much larger mission. "This is neighbors helping neighbors on a global scale," Shimshock added. "One shift, one table, one volunteer at a time – that is how this community helps change lives."

For two days in June, the action at Target Field won't be about home runs, but about hope. It's a shared purpose that has defined a decade of giving and continues to offer a powerful answer to a global crisis, one meal at a time. Community members interested in volunteering, forming a group, or donating to help fund the one million meals can find more information and register at fmsc.org/packatthepark.