POST FALLS - Young campers at last week's Ross Point Bible Camp didn't leave without an understanding that hunger is all around us and they can do their part to lessen the problem.

About 50 campers in the fourth through sixth grades raised money by collecting donations prior to camp for dehydrated food packages for the Post Falls Food Bank. They then prepared the packages in assembly lines during camp.

Students packaged enough rice, vegetables and other food products for 4,200 servings.

"It makes me feel good to help a whole bunch of people," said fourth-grader Reese Yerian of Coeur d'Alene.

The food product was purchased through Spokane-based nonprofit Generation Alive, which delivered the goods to the camp and helped organized the assembly effort.

Generation Alive was founded by San Francisco Giant pitcher Jeremy Affeldt, who resides in Spokane. It encourages youth to become world changers by helping others.

Camp director Jana Major, who knows Affeldt, said the idea behind the project was to make campers aware that hunger strikes their own neighborhoods and that they can make a difference in the lives of others.

"You can be a whole new person when you go home," Major told the campers on Friday. "Today is a new day for you."

Major said she believed the project opened eyes.

"They know kids from other countries are starving, but may not realize kids in their own schools are starving," she said.

Sherry Wallis, executive director of the food bank, said the kids' efforts will go a long way toward fighting hunger. And the timing is perfect as summer donations at the nonprofit can take a back seat to the holidays.

"These beautiful products of food are truly a gift," she told the campers prior to loading up the donations. "You all did an amazing job this week by helping lessen the burden of someone else. The families will be very grateful for you."

Wallis said the need remains huge despite the economy's recovery. The food bank serves 800 families consisting of 2,000 people on a regular basis. Last year the agency gave away 1.6 million pounds of food.

The food effort seemed infectious with the kids.

"Can we do it again?" one boy said.

A girl camper added: "Please? That was awesome."