mealsfromtheheartland.org
The World Food Prize Foundation announced today it will attempt to break the world record for the most hunger relief meals packaged in one hour on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, during the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue in Des Moines.
The Foundation will gather volunteers at the Iowa Events Center’s EMC Expo Center with a goal to package 600,000 meals. The current world record is 530,064 meals, but the Foundation, working in partnership with Meals from the Heartland, aims to unite thousands of individuals to surpass this number.
While the goal is to break a world record, the larger purpose is to address food insecurity and malnutrition by providing nutritious meals to children and families in need. Hunger remains prevalent around the world with 1 in 5 children not having access to a nourishing diet and locally 1 in 6 children in Iowa face food insecurity. By recruiting over 1,000 volunteers to execute the world record, the Foundation aims to feed 2,307 children for an entire year. Half of the meals packaged during the attempt will be distributed to children across Iowa, while the other half will be distributed to eight countries.
“Breaking a world record is not an easy feat, but with partnership of the Des Moines community and Meals from the Heartland, nourishing meals will be packaged and distributed to hungry children,” said Tom Vilsack, Chief Executive Officer, World Food Prize Foundation. “We have a unique opportunity to unite under one shared goal to feed thousands.”
The event will take place during the 2026 Borlaug Dialogue and volunteers will arrive at the Expo Center by 5:30 p.m. For more information relating to the world record attempt, Borlaug Dialogue and to sign up as a volunteer, click HERE.
World Food Prize Foundation
Comments