TABLE OF CONTENTS
Welcome to the first newsletter from the MCC Meat Canner of Lewis County. You’re receiving this newsletter because you volunteered at the 2002 Meat Canner at Maple Ridge.
By the way, “THANK YOU” for volunteering! Without your help the Meat Canner would never be able to do what it does.
And what does it do?
Every year MCC’s Mobile Meat Canner travels across the United States and Canada meeting volunteers who prepare cans of turkey, beef, chicken and pork to be sent around the world. Over 30,000 people a year volunteer to fill, weigh, wash and label every can.
Four canner operators travel with the meat canner to 34 different locations across the US and Canada and help the volunteers at each location. Once they're finished, cans are shipped to our partners, providing important nutrients where meat is hard to purchase.
Last year 550,440 lbs of canned meat was shipped to Burkina Faso, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Jordan, Syria, Zambia, and the U.S., including Puerto Rico.
And the great thing is that 10% of what we can stays right here in Lewis County. Food banks and non-profits that feed the hungry in the North Country receive our meat for their clients.
Meat Canner 2022
Here’s a rundown of what happened at the Maple Ridge Center on April 4-5, 2022.
Over the course of two days, 16,000lbs of meat were put into 9794 cans in about 21 hours by over 175 volunteers to feed hungry people around the world and in our own neighborhood.
People carried, cut, canned, dried, labeled, boxed and cleaned up. Young – old, all ability groups – each did its own special part, pitching in to make this year’s canner a success.
Volunteers were Boy Scouts, BOCES students, families, churches, civic groups, retirees, children, teens that came from as far away as Mannsville, NY.
Comforters Did you know that during the Meat Canner you could knot comforters as well. That’s right! Up in the Manor House at Maple Ridge there were comforters set up to be knotted.
These comforters will be shipped out with the canned meat to MCC where they will be used for relief work around the world. Next year feel free to stop in and lend a hand. A family in need will thank you on a cold night.
2023 & Beyond - The Future of the Canner
What’s the future look like for the Meat Canner of Lewis County? Glad you asked!
We’d like to go bigger and better in the years to come. More meat, more volunteers, more people fed. But to do that (like in everything else in life) it takes people who are willing to contribute their time and money to the cause.
23 in 2023
That is why we are announcing the “23 for 23 Campaign”. You could be one of the first 23 people to donate in one of the following categories:
Obviously, this is a fun marketing and fundraiser technique. You are able to give to a good cause and then have the bragging rights (if you want them) of being in the Class of ’23. No names on a plaque (they’ll rust), no special t-shirts (the moths will eat them), just the great feeling of making a difference.
If you'd like to give, feel free to Contact Us or simply send your check to 7421 East Road Lowville, NY 13367.
Volunteering
All of you who helped out were awesome and we can’t wait to see you next year. As we get closer to the next meat canner date in 2023, we’ll post ways you can help and how to sign up. We will be expanding what you can do to help, including the setup and tear down of the canning room.
Immediate Needs
Fundraising Coordinator – Are you someone who could help out in this area? We’d love to have you on board. Buying all the meat, cans, and supplies for the canning process is quite an expense. We’d love to be running small and unique fundraisers throughout the year to help cover the costs. If you can help, please reach out to us.
Local Food Distribution - We are looking for someone who would be interested in delivering cans of meat to local organizations as well as connecting with new organizations who would benefit from having the canned meat.
Upcoming Events
We’ll be sending out special announcements about upcoming events as they become available. Stay tuned!
One event you can start planning for now is the Annual Meat Grinder Bike Ride. Dates and details on the way.
MCC Meat Canner of Lewis County Board Members Jeremy Kelly – Chair
Benjamin Fouse – Facilities
Scott Watkins – Facilities and Meat Purchasing
Cindy and David Lapp – Hospitality
Ken Landis – Packaging, Marketing
Nate Barker – Volunteer Coordinator, Marketing
Keith Zehr – Maple Ridge Director
Becky Kelly – Treasurer