Farm Wagon | Tom Fisk (Pexels)
Farm Wagon | Tom Fisk (Pexels)
Seventeen Missouri 4-H clubs have been awarded 2023 4-H Feeding Missouri grants through the Missouri Farmers Care Foundation. This is the fourth year the Foundation has provided grants for Missouri 4-H clubs to fund local food security efforts.
“Missouri agriculture is honored to help equip Missouri 4-H families to live out their 4-H pledge committing their ‘hands to larger service,’” explained Ashley McCarty, executive director of Missouri Farmers Care Foundation. “The commitment of Missouri Farmers Care Drive to Feed Kids partners, presented by ADM and Brownfield Ag News, equips youth to positively impact their communities. These grants leave a lasting impact in the lives of 4-H members and families and make a brighter day for families receiving assistance.”
“Each year, the mini-grant applications become more creative,” says Sherry Grace, marketing and communication coordinator at the University of Missouri 4-H Center for Youth Development. “The clubs are making care packages, birthday cake kits, building and filling little free will pantries and providing scholarships for youth in the swine project to raise a pig for the Hogs for Hunger program.”
The 4-H clubs receiving up to $250 matching grants:
- Barton County 4-H Teen Leaders, Lamar
- Cape Girardeau County 4-H Council, Jackson
- Elkhorn 4-H Club, Warrenton
- 40-Ville 4-H Club, Mayview
- Gateway Gang 4-H Club, Glencoe
- Jasper County 4-H, Carthage
- Lawson 4-H Club, Lawson
- Mighty Eagles 4-H, Fordland
- Moniteau County 4-H Council, California
- Morgan County 4-H Council, Versailles
- Platte County Park Rangers 4-H Community Club, Parkville
- Prairie View 4-H Club, Warrenton
- Stoddard County 4-H Clubs, Bloomfield
- Sunrise 4-H Club, Oregon
- St. Francois 4-H Clubs, Farmington
- Ste. Genevieve 4-H Clubs, Ste. Genevieve
- Taylor 4-H, Palmyra
The 4-H Feeding Missouri Drive to Feed Kids matching grants are available to 4-H clubs that host service-learning projects focused on the 4-H Feeding Missouri and Drive to Feed Kids mission. The projects raise matching funds or make in-kind contributions between Jan. 1 and April 30.
“Each year I am excited to see the hard work and creativity put forth by our 4-H’ers to help others in their communities, says Lupita Fabregas, director of Missouri 4-H. “The most important part of our campaign is to educate our families and communities about food insecurity.”
More than one million meals have been raised over the last four years by 4-H clubs across Missouri. Last year, 264,658 meals were raised by Missouri 4-H clubs; Moniteau County 4-H won the friendly competition by raising resources for 46,750 meals. For more information about how you can participate in 4-H Feeding Missouri, please visit 4h.missouri.edu.
While the 4-H Feeding Missouri competition concludes April 30, this year’s Drive to Feed Kids events are just getting started. In 2022, this collaborative effort raised 2,425,185 meals for Feeding Missouri and its six affiliate food banks and over 1,500 partner agencies. This year, the Drive to Feed Kids will pay for processing of pork donations made by pig producers and exhibitors. 4-H Feeding Missouri activities will continue at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia with an event in the 4-H Building on Farm Family Day. On Missouri Farmers Care Food Drive Tuesday and Missouri FFA Food Insecurity Service Day, hundreds of FFA members will pack over 150,000 meals. During Governor’s, Legislators’ and Judges’ Day, state and agriculture leaders will join together to assemble food kits for food-insecure students and families.
Missouri Farmers Care Foundation invites companies and individuals to join in the Drive to Feed Kids. To partner with the Drive to Feed Kids, contact Ashley McCarty at ashley@mofarmerscare.com(opens in new window). Drive sponsorship details and a giving link can be found at www.mofarmerscare.com/drive(opens in new window). All proceeds will be directed to Feeding Missouri network food banks who work daily to alleviate childhood hunger.
4-H Feeding Missouri partners with the Drive to Feed Kids each year to raise resources and awareness of the needs of food-insecure families.
Missouri Farmers Care
Missouri Farmers Care is a joint effort by Missouri’s agriculture community to stand together for the men and women who provide the food and jobs on which our communities depend. The coalition of more than 45 leading Missouri agricultural groups promotes the growth of Missouri agriculture and rural communities through coordinated communication, education, and advocacy. For more information, visit www.MOFarmersCare.com(opens in new window).
Missouri Farmers Care Foundation
Missouri Farmers Care Foundation enables Missourians to understand the influence and importance of agriculture in their daily lives by serving as the centralized hub of the unified educational programs, awards, and hunger relief efforts of Missouri’s agricultural community. For more information, visit www.MOFarmersCare.com(opens in new window).
Missouri 4-H
More than 55,000 members strong, Missouri 4-H is an active, dynamic organization of young people who are learning, growing and preparing to be the leaders of today and tomorrow – making a real difference in their community, country and world. 4-H is the youth development program of the University of Missouri and the nation’s Cooperative Extension System. For more information, visit 4h.missouri.edu(opens in new window).
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