By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – As soon as the countdown hit zero, about 50 Evangel Classical Christian School students began calmly, but quickly, packing food bags and passing them along an assembly line and into rows of waiting boxes.

From the beginning of the line in the ECCS gymnasium, students scooped non-perishable food items into a plastic bag before sealing it and passing it down a line of students onto a table. From there, students packed each bag neatly into a cardboard box containing inspirational Christian messages before taping the box shut and stacking it for shipment.

Throughout the day on Feb. 26, every student at the school had a chance to participate in the activity, which simultaneously served as an activity to help those in need and a fundraiser for the school.

Through the school’s Feed the Need program, students began working in January to secure sponsorships from members of the community. Those who donated gave a certain amount of money to sponsor the students’ charity packing party on Feb. 26.

By the time the event began, the school had smashed its goal.

“It’s at almost $66,000 right now,” ECCS teacher Beth Mitchell said, noting the event’s fundraising goal was $60,000. “For a school our size, that’s amazing. We surpassed our goal, so the Lord has truly blessed us.”

During the packing party, ECCS students prepared a total of 10,000 meals for hungry children in Haiti and Jefferson County. About 8,500 meals – accompanied with messages of Christian gospel ­– will be mailed to Haiti while the remainder will help hungry children in Jefferson County.

The event was organized by ECCS teachers Kelly Parker and Lisa Coston, and the Chelsea-based Champion Events Group provided the food the students packed to ship to those in need.

“It’s wonderful to see everyone coming together to make this happen,” Mitchell said. “Not only will the kids receive food, they are also going to receive the gospel of Christ.”