Volunteers and contributions are still needed for the town’s community food packing event on Thursday, March 15, in the Community Center.

This year’s event will be the eighth in as many years, and the organizers have set a goal of packing 80,000 meals.

Representatives of several organizations will pack measured amounts of dehydrated ingredients into easily prepared packets from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

New Journey is the lead organizer. Two other key sponsors are Church of the Ascension and Shepherd of the Hills Church.

“We look like we’re on track to get food and make 80,000 meals again this year,” said New Journey pastor Adele Resmer.

The meals will be distributed to a number of Arizona organizations that feed the hungry, including Extended Hands Food Bank, St. Mary’s Food Bank, Arizona Brain Food, Grace in the City, and others.

About 75 to 80 percent of the meals will go to organizations in Arizona, especially in the metropolitan Phoenix area.

The remaining 20 to 25 percent will be distributed elsewhere where needed, including for disaster relief in the United States and abroad.

If interested in participating, individuals can register at fhfoodpack@njlc-fh.org.

“There’s plenty to do,” said Dave Bubke, who with his wife, Leslie, are co-chairs of the event.

Donations to pay for the dehydrated ingredients can be sent to New Journey Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 19652, Fountain Hills AZ 85269.

Thrivent Financial will have a booth in the lobby where parents can prepare child identification materials for their children.