Meagan Hickman said it bothers her that there are children in Haiti digging through the trash just so they can eat, while some of her fellow students at Albert Lea High School think nothing of buying second helpings at lunchtime simply because they can.

“I think about how for 25 cents a day, we could be feeding a child a meal. For the price of a soda, they could have two meals,” Hickman, a senior, said. “If everyone would think this way, I wonder how long it would take to stop this hunger.”

Hickman has started a Kids Against Hunger campaign locally. Her goal is to raise $50,000 for the nonprofit organization before Feb. 28. On that day, volunteers will gather at the high school to package meals to send to hungry orphans in Haiti. If the $50,000 is raised, 250,000 meals can be packaged.

The meals, which were developed by some of the world’s leading food scientists at Cargill, Pillsbury, General Mills and ADM, include rice, soy powder, chicken flavoring and a vitamin tablet. There are six servings in a bag.

“On Feb. 28, we’ll be moving the food into the bags,” Hickman said.

The ALHS student council has gotten involved and after school on Monday made thermometers to hang in each first-hour classroom. Each classroom is being challenged to raise $150 for Kids Against Hunger. The challenge starts today. One teacher has offered to match what her class raises, Hickman said.

Other schools, including Alden-Conger, Hollandale Christian School and Southwest Middle School, are also working on the project.

Hickman said she first learned about Kids Against Hunger after a mission trip to San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico. The group then traveled to a conference in Salt Lake City, where they were given the opportunity to raise money to send to Sudan.

“Because we had food on the bus, members of our group decided to donate the spending money we had for food,” Hickman said. “With 35 kids, it added up fast.”

After conference organizers saw how much the students had raised — about $2,000 — Hickman and 2008 ALHS graduate Hetal Patel were asked to speak at the conference. An offering raised a total of $40,000 for Kids Against Hunger, then participants were invited to help package meals, she said.

“When we got back, people were talking about it,” she said. So she got something started locally.

Donate money. Checks payable to Kids Against Hunger can be sent to Meagan Hickman at 405 Giles Place, Albert Lea.

Volunteer to help on Feb. 28 in the Albert Lea High School gym. Anyone age 7 and older is welcome to help package meals. There will be two shifts, from 10 a.m. to noon and from noon to 2 p.m. Call Faith Anderson at 402-4834 to sign up.

Tell friends and family members.

Members of her church, Crossroads Evangelical Free Church, have been helping her. Children at the church brought in $500 in coins and $1,500 in bills.

“These kids care so much,” Hickman said.

There are some 15 fellow students who have been assisting Hickman, as well as the student council. They’ve spoken to service clubs and churches around town and as of Monday had raised $8,000.

“Lots of people are being generous,” she said.

She said she is hoping people will get the message about how many people are in need. Already, many of her classmates have.

“This is a project from the hearts of the high school students,” she said. “This is supporting their desire to help. We want to make a difference.

“We talk a lot about the tough economic times we’re in,” Hickman said. “But we have so much in the United States. If we took the time to think about these kids, we’d be moved.”

Junior Emily Troe, who was on the mission trip with Hickman, said she’s been pleased with the response so far. “It’s really sparked an interest,” she said. “It’s like coming alive. We can help by giving kids something they can eat to stay alive.”