AUG. 31, 2011 -- The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center has a lofty goal. The St. Louis-based research

St. Louisans are invited to help alleviate hunger by participating in the center's World Food Day Commemoration, Oct. 14-15. Families, sports teams, scouts, youth groups and other organizations can sign up to package specially formulated food for shipment to Africa. Each packaging session takes an hour, and children ages 7 and up are welcome to volunteer with a parent.

"Each package of food provides nutritionally complete servings for six children," said Melanie Bernds, public relations manager for Donald Danforth Science Center. "The food is designed to reverse the starvation process, help restore health, and improve mental and physical alertness."

Each sealed package has a three-year shelf-life and costs about 25 cents to make and ship, she said. The costs will be covered by the Danforth Center, sponsors and donations from volunteers. Student volunteers are asked to donate $10 and adults are asked to donate $20 to help defray the costs of the meals.

Last year 1,900 St. Louis volunteers packaged more than 350,000 meals during the center's two-day event. The meals were sent to malnourished children in Tanzania.

To register for the event, visit the Danforth Center website.

Photo of nutritionally complete packaged food courtesy of Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.

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