NEW YORK -- One thing we know: Major League Baseball cares about people around the world. On Wednesday afternoon, MLB and Rise Against Hunger hosted a food packaging event in the MLB offices on Park Avenue.
More than 100 MLB employees and interns came together to pack 12,088 meals within an hour. The meals included rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables and a vitamin packet. This will feed youth and families across the globe. It marked the third consecutive year MLB and Rise Against Hunger formed this partnership.
Targeting hunger, specifically by supporting school feeding programs, Rise Against Hunger leverages support to address issues related to poverty, disease, education, and the welfare of women and children.
Rob Whitaker, who does community engagement for Rise Against Hunger, was pleased to see MLB work so hard to help needy people.
"It's absolutely amazing. As a big baseball fan, it's really nice to see Major League Baseball take part in an activity that is not only in the community, but in the communities around the world," Whitaker said. "It gives me a great sense of joy to see pictures of the recipients getting the meals. Not only for me, but with the organizations who work with us. It really means a lot to see that joy and happiness knowing that [people in need] will have a hot meal for that day."

Melanie LeGrande, vice president of social responsibility for MLB, said baseball is committed to serving the community -- locally and beyond.
"We are doing what we can to feed folks who are in need. So it means a lot to us," she said. "I'm very satisfied that Major League Baseball can help the cause. We are leveraging our employees' time and our abilities to make a difference in the world."
Rise Against Hunger, an international hunger relief organization based in Raleigh, N.C., works to implement immediate and long-term solutions to hunger worldwide. With program locations in 20 U.S. cities and five international offices, Rise Against Hunger has engaged volunteers to package nearly 400 million nutrient-rich meals for distribution to 74 countries around the globe. Last year, for example, Rise Against Hunger served more than 1.4 million people in 2017.
Rise Against Hunger is committed to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development goal of ending hunger by 2030.