The Mount and Mother Seton School Unite to Bring Food Aid to South America

At the beginning of Lent, Meghan Fleming with the Mount St. Mary’s University (MSMU) Center for Service, reached out to the Mother Seton School, both in Emmitsburg, asking for assistance in collecting food donations for Operation Mato Grosso (OMG). OMG is a youth-led service group that helps feed the poor in South America that began in 1967.

“Every donation counts, and we believe that you are never too young to give back to those in need. As Catholic schools, we thought it was important to join forces with Mother Seton School, especially during the Lenten season, to expand the call to give alms into the community. “ said Fleming.

Together, the Student Councils at both institutions ran campaigns to collect six staple food items: pasta, rice, flour, cooking oil, canned food, and sugar.

While MSMU has supported OMG since 2017, this marks the first year Mother Seton School joined the effort. Thanks in part to their involvement, the first shipment—an impressive 58,000 pounds of food—was sent out before Easter. According to Fleming, this was the first time they’ve been able to complete a shipment ahead of the holiday.

Hunter Lucers, Class of ’24, founded OMG chapter at MSMU and left last fall to serve in an OMG mission location in Peru. Some of the items collected will be sent directly to Lucer’s mission in Huacrachuco, Peru.

OMG members meet two to three times a week to take on local jobs to raise funds for their mission. These hardworking volunteers offer services such as leaf removal, lawn mowing, attic and basement cleanouts, and scrap metal collection. Community members pay for the services, and 100 percent of the proceeds are donated to OMG to aid those in need in South America.

If you have a job for the volunteers and are interested in supporting OMG, please contact Meghan Fleming at 610-945-4370 or by email at m.fleming@email.msmary.edu.

Pictured (from left): Lucas Wantz, MSS Student Council President; Mackenzie Hager, MSS Student Council Treasurer; Joe Daponte, Mount St. Mary’s Center for Service; Meghan Fleming, Mount St. Mary’s Center for Service; Philip Field, MSS Student Council Vice President; and Ranye Nzekwesi, MSS Student Council Secretary.

Operation Mato Grosso volunteers come together to load the shipping container with packaged boxes, which are on their way to Peru.

Operation Mato Grosso OMG volunteers collect and package the six staple food items outside of a grocery store.