Wendell — In a few weeks time, residents from across eastern Wake County will have an opportunity to help feed thousands of people.

Organizers of the second annual Million Meals effort aim to bag 40,000 dehydrated meals in an event scheduled for Feb. 23 at East Wake High School.

Sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Wendell and Zebulon, last year’s event drew more than 100 volunteers who helped bag dried ingredients into serving-sized bags which were then sealed in airtight containers and stored for shipment to Third World nations where famine threatens the health of millions of people.

Barrie Davis, who is co-chairing the event for the Zebulon Rotary Club, says the local bagging effort is a natural fit for local clubs.

“Rotary International is not just a local organization. We’re concerned with issues all over the world. We promote peace and understanding. You can’t do that if you’re starving,” Davis said.

Last year’s effort drew the help of a wide array of volunteers including scouts, other civic club members, church groups, families and teens looking for an opportunity to fulfill community service obligations at school.

Volunteers can work in one of a variety of jobs, including bagging the ingredients, sealing bags, loading boxes and refilling ingredient buckets.

Jennifer Sollinger, who is heading up the effort for the Wendell Rotary Club, said the event is also special for the way it draws the communities closer together.

“For a time, we are all on the same page. We’re not colors and races and how much we make. We’re all doing the same thing for the same reason,” Sollinger said.

Davis agreed, saying people get a good feeling for their labor.

“They get tired. From last year’s report, they got the best feeling you can ever imagine for having helped someone they didn’t even know without the expectation of getting anything in return,” Davis said.

This year’s event will be run in two two-hour shifts. Organizers need 70 volunteers for each shift. The first shift is from 9-11 a.m. The second shift runs from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Individuals, families or groups interested in volunteering can call Davis at 269-4589 or Sollinger at 374-9647.

All ages can volunteer. Last year’s event drew volunteers as young as five and as old as 93.

“We’ve got a job for everybody. Last year we had a five-year-old who worked like you wouldn’t believe carrying packages from one table to another,” Davis said.