For Troy Heller, giving is more than a good intention, it’s a calling. As a monthly donor to the FMSC Something Greater community, Troy has woven generosity into the fabric of his family life, his faith and even his workplace — and it all started with a trip to the Dominican Republic that changed everything.

“When you get there and see it … all the feels come out,” Troy says, reflecting on the moment the mission of FMSC became deeply personal. While visiting a soup kitchen in the Dominican Republic, he saw firsthand how MannaPack® meals do more than fill empty stomachs — they change lives.

One moment stood out: a mother who was receiving meals wanted to pray for her son battling addiction — an experience that hit close to home for Troy. This September, he’ll celebrate 10 years of sobriety. “Food doesn’t just feed the stomach,” he says. “It feeds the soul.”

A birthday gift that keeps giving

Troy and his wife are in this together. In fact, their commitment to the Something Greater began as a birthday gift to her — a shared promise to give a percentage of their income each month to help feed children.

“I love Something Greater,” he says. “It gives me and my family the opportunity to give a percentage of our treasures to help feed children.” He grounds that belief in his faith, quoting a verse that paves the way he lives his life each day:

“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” — Matthew 25:40

To Troy, giving each month means more than budgeting. “We decided we needed to help others,” he says. “This food doesn’t only feed kids — it feeds adults, too. I’ve seen it.”

Spreading the mission at work

Troy’s giving spirit hasn’t stayed confined to his family — it’s reached his workplace, too. With volunteer hours provided by his company, Troy has turned FMSC packing sessions into a team-building tradition. Each month, he gathers colleagues — representing 23 countries and five different religions — for packing shifts at FMSC’s Coon Rapids and Eagan sites. Some have shared that they remember seeing MannaPack meals distributed in their own communities growing up, and they know firsthand the difference that the food made. It’s become a shared experience that bridges cultures and brings people together.

His message to you

For anyone considering becoming a monthly donor, Troy’s advice is simple: just start.

“Start with what you feel you’re comfortable with every month. If it’s 25 cents or a dollar… it feeds kids and it saves lives.”

Troy gives because he’s seen the impact with his own eyes. He’s felt it in his heart. And he knows firsthand that even the smallest monthly gift can be part of Something Greater — will you join him?