News

Requests from around the world for much needed Mercy Meals has increased tremendously because of the pandemic. COVID caused restrictions on group gatherings, which meant no packing events, which meant no food to feed the hungry. OGT’s Norfolk warehouse manager Doug Trampe along with volunteers; Bill Begeman, Bill Meyer and Andy Peietzmeier went to work to design a semi-automated packing of meals. They found a food grade mixer and a processor for filling the bags and of course, their first team of volunteers to produce Mercy Meals! The room was built in the back of the Norfolk warehouse with heat/air and ventilation for dust control. The team, now called ‘The A Team’, is dedicated to meeting twice a week and packs about 7,776 meals in three hours! This project is growing and has a couple of other dedicated groups scheduled weekly to make meals. In the first 6 months 401,508 Mercy Meals have been produced and shipped to hungry children and families around the world! Since Mercy Meal packing events shut down from COVID, OGT found a way to help supply some of the life-saving food demands.

‘The A Team’ back row L to R: Andy Peietzmeier, Bill Meyer and Phil Zastrow. Front Row L to R: Nancy Dolesh, Pat Leavell and Verona Wantoch.