Roughly 200 volunteers are set to gather at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 29, at the Fountain Hills Community Center, 13001 N. La Montana Drive, for the Food for Kidz food packing event.

Volunteers will spend two hours packing thousands of dehydrated meals for distribution through various organizations that feed the hungry.

“Planning has gone well and we should be set to go on Thursday,” said Denny Rubenow of New Journey Lutheran Church, chairperson of this year’s event.

Participants should arrive between 5:15 and 5:30 p.m. Chairs are provided for those who need to sit while packing.

Participants are assigned to teams of 10 that will pack the meals in an assembly-line style, adding different ingredients as the packets move down the line.

Volunteers affiliated with a group are asked to arrive together so they can participate at the same packing table.

It’s not too late to participate, said Rubenow. Just show up at the designated time.

Rubenow said he and other members of the steering committee greatly appreciate the community’s participation in the enterprise.

“It’s a chance for people to come together to help other people,” he said. “We want to say thank you to the many people and organizations in the community who have made these food-packing events a success.”

The project is led by New Journey Lutheran Church (ELCA). Donations pay for the dry ingredients. Contributions are accepted through Thursday, Feb. 29, at the packing location in the Community Center.

For more information and to sign up as a volunteer, visit njlc-fh.org/ffk-volunteer-form.