Friday’s event was a joint effort with the Kids Against Hunger program.

Volunteers formed assembly lines inside a conference room at the Penn Stater in State College to prepare the packages.

Rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables and a powdery mix containing 21 vitamins and minerals were carefully measured and poured into the meal bags, before being sealed and stacked in boxes.

When boiling water is added, the mix turns into a rice and soy casserole that can feed six.

Thrivent Financial employees from several different states offered their help to bag the meals, including program director Larry Moore.

“The issue of hunger is growing in the world,” said Moore. “With the current recessionary times in the United States, hunger is becoming an increasingly important issue. Many food pantries' shelves are bare."

According to Moore,16,000 of the bagged meals will be flown to Haiti to feed children devastated by the earthquake that heavily damaged Port-au-Prince two weeks ago.

Several volunteers, like Frank Stone, say they were moved by the images following the earthquake in Haiti.

“We've all seen those reports on your news program about how tough things are down there,” said Stone. “I hope some of the stuff makes it there, but we'll see."

The prepackaged meals are expected to reach earthquake victims in 10 days.

The other 16,000 bagged meals will be dispersed to food pantries across Pennsylvania, including Centre County.