Heidi Middendorf and Larissa Branovacki aren’t just smart girls poised to carve out bright futures. Each was in the top 20 of Copley High School’s class of 2011 and each is receiving $46,000 in scholarships.This like-minded pair — best friends since seventh grade — also is dedicated to helping the most economically disadvantaged among us, locally and globally.The two took leadership roles in sponsoring a three-day garage sale (clothing, toys, sports equipment and knickknacks like snow globes and bobbleheads) on behalf of Inside Out, a Bible study group formed this past school year at Copley High. To draw more potential buyers, Inside Out added a bake sale with fresh-out-of-the-oven goods and lemonade.Encouraged to think about the good they were doing to fight famine, purchasers were invited to sign their names on colorful paper hearts that were on display.Heidi and Larissa had high hopes, as did other members of Inside Out, that the garage sale would raise $240, which would translate into 1,000 meals for Feed My Starving Children, a Christian nonprofit organization.So, imagine their delight when they ended up with $657, enough to provide 3,000 meals.“We are truly blessed,” Larissa said, summing up the feelings of all who had a hand in making the sale a success.And all agree that Feed My Starving Children, which is “committed to feeding God’s children hungry in body and spirit,” is a worthy cause.Heidi said she learned about Feed My Starving Children through her church, Grace Church on Ghent Road, and at a few of the food-packing events.The concept of the nonprofit is a simple one, according to its website, http://www.fmsc.org: “Children and adults hand-pack meals specifically formulated for malnourished children, and we ship the meals to nearly 70 countries around the world.”And the need to do something, if you’ve been following the urgent news accounts about the famine in the horn of Africa, especially Somalia, couldn’t be greater than it is right now.“Eleven million people are at risk of starvation in Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan and South Sudan,” the website reports.Getting involved with Feed My Starving Children seemed like a natural progression for Inside Out, whose members were inspired to walk the walk.The name of the Bible study group came about “because it represents the change people undergo when Christ changes their lives,” Larissa noted. The sessions prompt lots of lively discussion about the Bible as well as personal problems, the girls said.Inside Out attracts a diverse audience of students, those who are members of an organized religion and those who aren’t. “We even have a few atheists who are curious about us,” Heidi said, adding, “They don’t feel negative or judgmental.”“We see the group as bringing down barriers,” said Larissa, who is a member of Brunswick Hills Apostolic Christian Church of the Nazarene. “The most tangible thing we can do is to all convene together and discuss things, have opposing views with no tense moments.”Heidi, who will be off this fall to Oberlin College, and Larissa, going to the College of Wooster, are hoping Inside Out continues.As they see it, there’s always a need for engaging, food-for-thought discussions and avenues to find ways to feed those who have appetites but not food to eat.Fortunately, Inside Out has found a way to do both.Community gatheringFirst Congregational Church (United Church of Christ), 47 Aurora St., Hudson, is sponsoring a community gathering at 1 p.m. Sept. 11, at Hudson’s Gazebo on the Green.People are encouraged to wear white as a show of unity while enjoying music, celebration and remembrance, hot dogs and a 1,000-balloon release (all biodegradable). Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets. (In case of rain, the event will move to the church.)The program is being led by senior minister Peter Wiley with music by the choirs from the church and Hudson High School, and a reading by Hudson Mayor Bill Currin. Preceding the special service, the church will host three services — 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 11:59 a.m. — with a universal message of peace, hope and unity.For information, call 330-650-4048 or send email to dbuchanan@hudsonucc.org.Workout class for womenKudos to Stacey Smith, creator and instructor at Core Grooves, a dance-based workout program, who is offering a free weekly exercise session to low-income women in Summit County at the World of Dances studio, 331 Portage Trail, Cuyahoga Falls.“Exercise improves your attitude and self-confidence, which improves every area of life. My goal is to help women feel good in spite of their current circumstances,” said Smith, a former Miss USA Ohio contestant. The free, 30-minute class is at 5 p.m. Tuesdays. For information, visit http://www.coregrooves.com or call 330-344-9053. Don’t just show up.Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or emailed at jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.