ne little spark can start a burning fire, and one student at Albert Lea
High School has done just that; with a little spark, he has ignited a fire that will help to change the lives of 100,000 people.
Sophomore Jacob Jensen has become a team leader at ALHS to help with the Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) organization. Jacob invited his friends, contacted businesses and requested posters and provided other attention grabbing things to be posted around ALHS to help student involvement become simple.
     “It feels kind of weird because I’m just going for it,” said Jensen.
       According to his peers, Jensen wants to help people, whether through taking an independent study government class or by helping students become involved in high school.

He is determined to help people he doesn’t even know through acts of charity and generosity.
     Jensen knew he wanted to do this a few months ago when he felt that God wanted him to help FMSC and help students get involved.
       “I did not realize how big of a deal hunger was until I started my research, “Jensen said.
Now Jensen is helping to raise money for the food that FMSC and many volunteers will package on Dec. 1 at the National Guard Armory.
     FMSC is a non-profit Christian organization committed to feeding starving children for God through body and spirit. On December 1 FMSC plans to package MannaPack meals for 100,000 starving children. These meals then are shipped to almost 70 countries around the world, and each meal only costs 22 cents to produce. These packing events help with teamwork and unity, and make a real difference in the hunger issue.
     “Jacob asked if I wanted to help lead with him, he told me what it was about, and what I needed to do,” said junior Preston Smith.
      Smith is one of many students Jensen has recruited to help spread the word about the event and to inspire students to help in any way they can. Smith has had experience helping people in the past by packaging food just like FMSC.
     “Jacob is very outspoken; he knows what he wants and how he has to earn it,” Smith said.
     In order for this entire program to work, Jensen has to help FMSC earn $22,000 to pay for the meals. At ALHS, Penny Wars is how Jensen raised money. This helped students donate through their advisory class. Jensen has also asked local businesses to help with donations, and they were happy to help.
     “My parents think I’m crazy,” Jensen said.
      His parents support him 100 percent and many students at ALHS support Jensen as well and want to help him in any way they can. Though Jensen is only a sophomore, he has started his own volunteer work in high school, and hopes to participate in more events like this in the future.
     “I’m very excited, and I cannot wait for Dec. 1,” Jensen said.