El Monte Union High School District is calling on students, staff, and families to support wildfire relief at the One Million Meal Packing Event, beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, June 27, at the Queen Mary in Long Beach. The meal packing event is part of a large-scale effort to assist food banks and communities impacted by the January wildfires.

The meal packing event is hosted by Food4Less, Foods Co, Ralphs, and U.S. Hunger and is backed by Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation. It aims to assemble one million meals in a single day, providing critical resources to those facing food insecurity across California.

District Volunteers  to Aid Wildfire Relief Support

Volunteers are invited to sign up for one of three available shifts: 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., or 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Participants under age 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The first 2,000 volunteers will receive a commemorative T-shirt for their service.

Organizers emphasize that the meal packing event is designed to be family-friendly and accessible. Participants will help pack shelf-stable meals that will be distributed through regional food banks and hunger relief organizations. The effort offers a hands-on way for community members to contribute to disaster response and fight hunger locally.

Fighting Hunger Through Collective Action

The event reflects El Monte Union’s continued engagement in service learning and civic involvement.

By taking part in the meal packing event, students and residents can contribute directly to addressing food insecurity—a challenge affecting thousands of families across the state. Wildfires earlier this year intensified the need for emergency food supplies, displacing households and disrupting access to basic services.

Organizers note that participation in the meal packing event provides a meaningful way for young people to learn about community need while working side by side with others who share a commitment to service.

Event Delivers Hands-On Wildfire Relief Support

Volunteering at the meal packing event supports both immediate relief and long-term resilience. Meals packed on June 27 will stock food banks, shelters, and mobile food units. In recent years, events like this have proven to be vital lifelines for communities recovering from natural disasters.

The collaboration between El Monte Union and U.S. Hunger aligns with the district’s mission to connect education and civic responsibility. District participation also helps amplify the core message behind Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative: that coordinated community efforts can help eliminate hunger and reduce waste.

For more information or to sign up for a volunteer shift, visit:
Event Sign-Up

Whether packing meals or spreading the word, El Monte Union families and staff are invited to be part of a statewide movement making a tangible impact—one box at a time.