Join Philadelphia celebrities and distinguished local professionals at Arcadia’s Pack-a-Thon for Stop Hunger Now on Sunday, Feb. 12, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Dome. The event is being organized by the Office of Community Service. (Register.)

The Philadelphia Union Mobile Marketing Tour, members of Haitian Professionals of Philadelphia and Maria Sciorillo, Miss Philadelphia 2011, have already confirmed their participation. They will join the Arcadia community and members of  surrounding communities as they assemble life-saving meals that will be distributed around the world. Participants are asked to raise a minimum of $10 (students can charge the donation to their Knight Card), which will provide 40 meals. Arcadia’s Office of Community Service has set goal of raising at least $10,000, enough for 40,000 meals. However, they’re hoping for more.

The Philadelphia Union is sending its Mobile Marketing Tour, also known as the 12th man, a grass roots marketing effort that provides Union giveaways, promotional materials, and inflatables for young participants to practice and test their soccer skills.

“We hope that the Pack-a-Thon will bridge the gap between our community and the university, and hope to see it continue on as a tradition at Arcadia University,” says Cindy Rubino, Community Service Officer. “We chose to contact the Union to recognize the efforts of those volunteers of all ages, who chose to bind together as a community through raising money in order to fight and eradicate hunger in our world. Arcadia is trying to provide a fun, up-beat atmosphere for those of all ages.

“The Dome gives us space to engage in activities before and after packing their meals. We have reached out to those involved with the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association (EPYSA), Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, churches, and elementary, middle, and high schools in our area in hopes to reaching a very wide age range of participants.”

The meals will be used in crisis situations and in nutrition programs for schools and orphanages in developing countries around the world. Stop Hunger Now has perfected an assembly process packaging rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables and a flavoring mix including 21 essential vitamins and minerals into small meal packets.

Arcadia University began collaborating with Haitian Professionals of Philadelphia in 2010 after the devastating earthquake in Haiti occurred. Taking a proactive approach, students connected with the Haitian Professionals of Philadelphia to help fill a plane with tents, shoes, sleeping bags and other aid to victims. Arcadia’s Pack-a-Thon is another way to assist the people of Haiti as they continue rebuilding.

The meals will be distributed in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Delivery can be tracked online at www.stophungernow.com. For more information contact the Community Service Office at 215-572-4000 or communityservice@arcadia.edu.