NOW AIR AT 2:07 A.M. NEW AT FOUR MEALS FROM THE HEARTLAND IS WORKING AROUND A PACKAGING PROBLEM TO GET MORE FOOD TO KIDS WHO NEED IT IN AFRICA. EVERY YEAR, 7 MILLION IOWA MEALS FEED SCHOOL CHILDREN IN SOUTH AFRICA. THEY ARE THE CHILDREN SHOWCASED IN ERIC HANSON FEBRUARY SPECIAL. BUT RECENTLY THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE LABELS ON THE BAGS OF FOOD AND THAT HAS BEEN FIXED. SO NOW IOWANS ARE PLAYING CATCH UP. THEY’RE PACKAGING MEALS IN THESE NEW BAGS SPECIFICALLY FOR SOUTH AFRICAN KIDS. ONE WEEK A MONTH FROM NOW THROUGH NOVEMBER, WE ARE PACKING NOTHING BUT SOUTH AFRICAN BAGS BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING WE WORKED THROUGH LAST YEAR WITH THE HEALTH MINISTRY IN SOUTH AFRICA. YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR THESE SPECIAL PACKING EVENTS AT MEALS FROM THE HEARTLAND.ORG. GL

Meals from the Heartland resolves labeling issue to deliver food to South African children

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Updated: 4:32 PM CDT May 19, 2026

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Meals from the Heartland is working to pack meals for South African schoolchildren after resolving a labeling issue with the country’s health ministry. Every year, seven million meals from Iowa are sent to feed children in South Africa. These children were featured in Eric Hanson’s February special. Recently, the South African government raised concerns about the labels on the food bags. The issue has been fixed, and Iowans are now catching up by packing meals in new bags specifically for South African kids. You can sign up to volunteer or donate at the Meals from the Heartland website here.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa —

Meals from the Heartland is working to pack meals for South African schoolchildren after resolving a labeling issue with the country’s health ministry.

Every year, seven million meals from Iowa are sent to feed children in South Africa. These children were featured in Eric Hanson’s February special.

Recently, the South African government raised concerns about the labels on the food bags. The issue has been fixed, and Iowans are now catching up by packing meals in new bags specifically for South African kids. You can sign up to volunteer or donate at the Meals from the Heartland website here.