Honda Manufacturing of Indiana (HMIN) is taking part in a marathon.

For the second year, HMIN is sponsoring the Million Meal Marathon, part of the effort by the Million Meal Movement to feed people in need in Indiana and promote volunteerism.

“I really appreciated the opportunity to give back to our local communities,” said Randy Powell, HMIN Business Division manager. “You could feel the energy in the room while our associates were packing the meals for the surrounding counties. Our associates are always so ready and willing to help their neighbors.”

The Million Meal Movement is celebrating 10 years of fighting hunger in Indiana while dealing with the reality of gathering volunteers in a COVID-19 world. In the past, the Million Meal Marathon has gathered as many volunteers as possible together for one day with the mission of packing 1 million meals.

This year, to keep volunteers safe, the nonprofit is bringing smaller groups of volunteers together to pack meals in October and November. Despite the changes brought on by the pandemic, HMIN was happy to participate and kicked off the marathon by hosting a meal-packing event at the plant on Oct. 8. Following COVID-safety guidelines, HMIN volunteers stayed socially distant, wore masks, studiously used hand sanitizer and wore gloves while packing a brand new meal for the Million Meal Movement: macaroni and cheese.

HMIN associate Glenda Bevington said she was happy to help make sure no child goes hungry. “I participated because I feel I am blessed to be able to do things for others and it is so rewarding,” she said. “The program is important because there are others out in the world that are less fortunate. It makes my heart hurt to know there might be a child starving.”

The volunteering effort drew about 60 HMIN associates, from production associates to HMIN’s president. In 5 ½ hours, the HMIN volunteers packed 9,000 meals that will go to food pantries and meal programs in communities surrounding the plant.

“We can’t thank HMIN enough for their support and volunteerism,” said Molly Adams of the Million Meal Movement. “These meals will be benefiting the local counties that HMIN employees call home. The mac and cheese dinners that were packed will help feed 2,250 local Hoosier families and put a nutritious meal on the table for their kids to eat. The call to help our neighbors is the loudest it has been in a very long time, and without the help we received from HMIN, we would not be able to answer it. We look forward to what the future holds for our partnership with HMIN and the impact we can make when we all come together.”