Vernon native Leah Mary Rozycki, her husband Chris Rozycki, and their three children relocated to Guatemala in November to work as missionaries for .
Their mission: 鈥渢o bring in to Guatemala containers of donated nutritious Gleaners soup and used medical equipment from the .鈥�
Rozycki said that the couple chose Seeds to Harvest because she 鈥渟aw there was a need.鈥� She explained that Gleaners donates the food to seeds to harvest ministries, and the missionaries associated with that ministry 鈥� which is currently her, her husband and her parents 鈥� then raises the funds to ship the containers of Gleaners-made food from Vernon to Guatemala.
The program was first implemented at a school in Las Cruces, Guatemala on Tuesday, Feb. 19.
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鈥淲e heard about this needy community and that there were many malnourished children,鈥� Rozycki said. 鈥淲e arranged a trial feeding at the school to introduce the soup to see how the children responded to it, and if they liked it and wanted to, we鈥檇 continue with the feeding [program].鈥�
So, in preparation, they soaked the soup the night before so it would be ready for the children as they arrived at school. She said they were also aided by four local Guatemalans who helped prepare and cook the soup and make rice. She said they also made ponche, a drink made with dehydrated apples, which were also supplied by Gleaners.
鈥淭he children loved the soup, the bowls were empty and some were going back for seconds to take home with them,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always a great feeling when the response is so positive because these children need the nutrition so much, [and] Gleaners soup can provide that.鈥�
This school is just one of the Guatemalan locations that Gleaners helps feed. Anyone interested in helping the cause can donate at . Currently, she said, the costs associated with bringing in the containers is about 1 penny per serving. This meaning that a school of 400 children, like the one she and her husband help serve, can be fed for about $4.
WATCH: Our video of some of the volunteers to aid Guatemala relief efforts last June:
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