Just 10 Crackers A Day To Eat: Atmore Resident Crusading For Children

May 14, 2009

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Thousands of children in North Korea live on about and ounce and half of food per day — the equivalent of about 10 saltine crackers.

That simple fact spurred a young Atmore woman, Chelsea Hess, to action for Manna Missions, a charity that works to provide bread for North Koreans.

“I think of the 22 million people that are trapped inside of North Korea without the basic necessities that you and I are used to,” Hess told the Tri-Cities Rotary Club Wednesday afternoon.

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“Hunger as we think of it is completely selfish compared to the North Korean children,”  she said. “The reality that people live that way is heartbreaking to me.”

Manna Missions has become Hess’ calling. The group has an agreement with the government to construct up to 26 bakeries in North Korea. Three are up and running, and funds are being raised to get the fourth open soon.

Back in December, Hess took her project to her church, Grace Fellowship in Atmore, and raised $12,000 toward a bakery.

It takes about $96,000 to open a bakery and keep it running for a year. Each bakery  provides jobs for 15 North Korean residents and feeds thousands of children at a cost of about $3 per child per month.

For more information on Manna Missions, visit nkchildren.org.

Pictured: Chelsea Hess explains Manna Mission’s North Korea bakery project to the Tri-Cities Rotary Club Wednesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

3 Responses to “Just 10 Crackers A Day To Eat: Atmore Resident Crusading For Children”

  1. My 2 cents on May 14th, 2009 3:10 pm

    Kudo’s to you.
    But do remember that there are also children and Elderly in the USA. The elderly have to choose between “life saving medicines” and “Life saving groceries”. They have to decide whether to pay their electric bill, or eat. They freeze to death in the winter because they have no heat, they die from the heat in summer because they have no cooling. I have heard “heart breaking” stories where elderly were buying can dog food to eat because it was cheaper than a can of tuna.

  2. Diana Landis on May 14th, 2009 2:15 pm

    Great job, Chelsey! That is so cool that you had an opportunity to speak at the Rotary Club. God bless!
    Diana

  3. Good job on May 14th, 2009 11:55 am

    such an ambitious young lady. and a good cause too, but lets not forget about the families and children in this country that need food also. If there were more people that would take on issues like this the issues would one day be gone. great job chelsea!