Oct. 31 — CRESAPTOWN — More than 20,000 meals were packed and sent to various regional food charities and food banks by local students and volunteers on Wednesday.

Calvary Christian Academy in Cresaptown celebrated another year of making a big impact on those in need in the community by holding its seventh annual Calvary Cares Meal Packing Day.

“I think everyone deserves a nice, hot meal,” Calvary senior Brady Morgan said. “It’s nice to get the whole school involved to help our community; it’s our mission.”

The entire school was in operation, with each grade level heading to the gym to assemble meals throughout the day.

Students lined up, were given gloves, and sent to a row of separate tables with ingredients to share in the meals.

Ingredients were separated by food groups, such as carbohydrates and dried proteins.

This year’s menu included macaroni and cheese, and according to Rhonda Poland, Calvary’s director of development, each meal provides all the necessary nutrients.

“They are really efficient,” Polish students and volunteers said, adding that efficiency is key to packaging tens of thousands of meals each year.

The school changes the main course every year. Last year it was spaghetti.

Poland said he hopes to run his meal-packing operation twice a year in the future instead of just once, which would help ease the struggle of many.

“I would love to do this twice a year,” he said. “Even today, people are struggling to make ends meet, so the need for food aid is very real.”

Once all of the meals are packaged, they will be donated locally, including to the Western Maryland Food Bank, Union Rescue Mission, Salvation Army, Flintstone Food Pantry and Catherine’s Cupboard, Poland said.

Calvary elders help distribute the meals.

Poland said the event was a great way to give back to the community that continually rallies around them.

After Calvary’s gym was flooded in the summer of 2014, local residents showed great support to repair the extensive damage.

“Our community has always stood by CCA and supported us,” Poland said.

Andrew Creelman is a reporter for the Cumberland Times-News. To reach him, call 304-639-4403 or email [email protected].