JEFFERSON CITY, MO – 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’” Ashley McCarty, executive director of Missouri Farmers Care Foundation, explained. “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 Missouri 4-H. “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 are:  

• 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

Missouri Farmers Care Foundation’s Drive to Feed Kids and 4-H Feeding Missouri join forces annually to raise resources and awareness addressing 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 is a fight against hunger in our 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 January 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, 2023 Drive to Feed Kids events are just getting started. In 2022, this collaborative effort raised 2,425,185 meals for Feeding Missouri and it’s six affiliate food banks and over 1,500 partner agencies. This year, the Drive to Feed Kids will pay processing for 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’ & 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. Drive sponsorship details and a giving link can be found at www.mofarmerscare.com/drive. All proceeds will be directed to Feeding Missouri network food banks who work daily to alleviate childhood hunger.