Of Presidents and Peasants

Hundreds of Youth Participate in the 2nd Annual Peasants’ Day Feast

Shawnee, Kan. — Today, on President’s Day, instead of just taking a day off from school, hundreds of Kansas City area youth and their families are gathering at Youthfront’s second annual Peasants’ Day Feast in Kansas City, Kan. to package 30,000 meals to address hunger. As the country takes a day to remember the nation’s presidents who had great privilege and power, Youthfront is hosting a gathering to honor the peasants and the poor. In a statement, Youthfront said that while much of the American church prepares to begin its Lenten fast, “we chose a different kind of fasting–an Isaiah 58 kind of fast where we loosen the chains of injustice and share our food with the hungry”.

Youth of all ages will participate in the food preparation efforts to help hungry families.

Thousands of the meals packaged at the Peasants’ Day Feast will be used locally to address food insecurity. Thousands of additional meals will be shipped overseas to countries experiencing urgent food crises.

The format is a potluck feast in which everyone contributes—participants will bring 25 cents for every meal they package. In addition, Panera Bread is participating by purchasing 10,000 meals and sending their employees to package them.

The Peasants’ Day Feast will be held from 1:00-5:00 p.m. at the Youthfront Something to Eat warehouse located at 1200 S. 5th St., Kansas City, Kan.

Something to Eat is a year-round meal packaging program that gives youth an opportunity to gather together and reflect on the meaning and reality of poverty in our world, and then make an impact as they roll up their sleeves, don their hairnets, and go to work to provide meals for people in need. “Packaging meals is a unique and powerful way for us to connect with our humanity and to live into generosity as we consider lives different from our own and our role in justice in our world.” said Kurt Rietema, Director of Justice Initiatives for Youthfront.

Already have plans that day, but still want to help? You can donate to Something to Eat by visiting https://youthfront.com/somethingtoeat/donate-to-something-to-eat-2/.