BoCo 4-H club awarded grant to help fight hunger

Crooked Creek 4-H Club in Marble Hill is one of 24 Missouri 4-H clubs which have been awarded 2024 Drive to Feed Kids grants through the Missouri Farmers Care Foundation. The Bollinger County 4-H club received a $250 matching grant.

This is the fourth year the foundation has provided grants for Missouri 4-H clubs to fund local food security efforts through 4-H Feeding Missouri.

"Missouri agriculture is honored to help equip Missouri 4-H families to live out their 4-H pledge committing their 'hands to larger service,'" said Ashley McCarty, executive director of Missouri Farmers Care Foundation. "Missouri Farmers Care Drive to Feed Kids, presented by ADM and Brownfield Ag News, equips youth to positively impact their communities. These grants equip 4-H members and families as they work to make brighter days for families facing hunger."

"This year 4-H clubs continue to be creative with their use of grant dollars," said Maria Calvert, state Ag educator at Missouri 4-H. "Many are thinking of how they can make impacts in not only the short term, but also creating sustainable impacts for the future."

Missouri Farmers Care Foundation's Drive to Feed Kids and 4-H Feeding Missouri join forces annually to raise resources and awareness of the needs faced by food-insecure families. During the spring effort, Missouri 4-H clubs compete in a friendly competition by having food drives, collecting monetary donations, and volunteering their time in local food pantries. The partnership helps combat hunger in the state and allows youth the opportunity to pledge their service to their communities.

The 4-H Feeding Missouri Drive to Feed Kids matching grants are available to 4-H clubs which 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.

"The hard work and creativity put forth by our 4-H'ers to help others in their communities continues to amaze me," said Lupita Fabregas, senior program director of Missouri 4-H. "Through our ongoing efforts to raise awareness, educate, and inspire action, we can create lasting change."

More than 1.7 million meals have been raised over the last five years by 4-H clubs across Missouri. Last year, the collective efforts of Missouri 4-Hers and their families provided 711,268 meals. The 4-H Feeding Missouri competition, which has just launched for 2024, concludes April 30. For more information about how to participate in 4-H Feeding Missouri, visit 4h.missouri.edu.

Missouri Farmers Care Foundation invites companies, organizations and individuals to join the Drive to Feed Kids. Details and a link to give are available at www.mofarmerscare.com/drive.