Third graders get 'taste' of hurricane relief supplies

Rector Elementary students (from left) Nicolas Mesa, Hunter Householder and Desirae Freeman sample foods from a packet. [Click to enlarge]

William Bracken, grandfather of Rector Elementary student Jada Bracken, visited Mrs. Rita Dortch's class Sept. 24. Bracken drives a large tractor trailer and has been delivering supplies to Texas victims of recent Hurricane Ike.

He took to Mrs. Dortch's classroom one of the food packets the government is supplying to help feed the many people in shelters who have been forced from their homes. Each packet contains a main course, cheese, crackers, candy bar and milkshake or a hot beverage.

Bracken demonstrated how the packets are self heating in order to have a warm meal. The packet has a carbide insert around the meal that activates when water is added and will reach 200 degrees to make the meal steaming hot. Mr. Bracken fully activated the packet and, after cooling, the children sampled beef stew and a chocolate nutrition bar for a greater understanding of what the people are eating. The meal will remain warm for at least 1 ½ hours, he noted.

The children were excited to learn the process. The packets also contain Tabasco sauce, napkin, salt, pepper and gum. The packets are the same that the soldiers in Iraq and other field situations carry in their backpacks on a mission.