Full-time UST MBA Students Prepare Meals for Hungry Children

In spite of being in the midst of the hectic mid-term season students and faculty from the Full-time UST MBA program are still finding time for service. On Saturday, October 21st, 20 Full-time MBA students, Dean Christopher Puto, and three faculty members gathered in Chanhassen, MN at Feed My Starving Children, to pack food for hungry and malnourished children worldwide.

The volunteering event was organized by Student Association Vice President of Internal Affairs, Jenny Merkel ('07). A long-time volunteer herself, Merkel "felt like we really needed to do something that reflected the diversity of our [Full-time UST MBA] group." Merkel remarked "we're all very fortunate to be where we are" and noted that many of the MBA-candidate participants were inspired by the opportunity to "give something back to the community."

Participant Carlos Salguero ('07), an MBA candidate originally from Guatemala, noted, "I believe that giving to the poor is very important, especially to the children. Food is so important to children; coming from a third world country I have seen how under-developed children are because the lack of food."

In his thank you e-mail to participants, Dean Puto observed, "By coincidence – or Providence – this weekend is also World Mission Sunday, a time set aside to reach out to those in greater need, and our MBASA team most certainly did that today." Dean Puto also quoted Saint Francis of Assisi in his e-mail: "For people lose everything they leave behind in this world, but they carry with them the rewards of charity and the alms which they gave, for which they will have a reward and a suitable remuneration from the Lord."

The St. Thomas MBA's, who comprised the largest group volunteering at FMSC on October 21st, packed about 5,000 of the 8,208 meals prepared that day. The meals consist of rice, soy nuggets, vitamins, minerals, vegetarian chicken flavoring and dehydrated vegetables. Feed My Starving Children distributes food in countries all over the world including Tanzania, Haiti, Nicaragua and the Ukraine.

The Full-time students were also supported by Team MBA, an organization that encourages MBA's to be involved in and serve their communities by providing free t-shirts for participants and promoting events with local media and on their website.

Merkel hopes that this event was just the first in many more volunteering events to come. Salguero also commented on the importance of volunteering, "It's important for MBA students to volunteer because it helps give us perspective to our life mission. It will help us be more successful and continue to help others."

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