JEFFERSON CITY, MO – Twenty-four Missouri 4-H clubs have been awarded 2024 Drive to Feed Kids 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 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,’” explained 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.”

The 4-H clubs receiving up to $250 matching grants are:  

• Adventures 4-H Club, Columbia
• Antioch 4-H Club, Kahoka
• Cooper County 4-H Council, Boonville
• Crooked Creek 4-H Club, Marquand
• Elkhorn 4-H Club, Warrenton
• Glenwood 4-H Club, Glenwood
• Green County 4-H Teen Council, Republic
• Happy Helpers 4-H, Linn
• Hoover Heroes 4-H Community Club & Smithville 4-H Community Club, Smithville
• Jasper County Extension, Carthage
• Knox County 4-H Council, Edina
• Lawson 4-H Club, Lawson
• Lucky Clover Valley 4-H, West Plains
• Mighty Eagles 4-H Club, Fordland
• Millville 4-H Club, Excelsior Springs
• Olde Tyme 4-H, Rayville
• Pettis County 4-H Council, Sedalia
• Rockford Rebels 4-H, Lonedell
• Shooting Starts 4-H Club, Harrisonville
• Stoddard County 4-H, Bloomfield
• Warren County Extension, Warrenton
• Warren County Missouri 4-H Teen Leaders, Warrenton
• Evening Star 4-H

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 helps combat 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.

“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, 2023. For more information about how to participate in 4-H Feeding Missouri, please visit 4h.missouri.edu.

2024 Missouri Farmers Care Drive to Feed Kids events continue through the summer. 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 Monday, August 12. On Missouri Farmers Care Food Drive Tuesday and Missouri FFA Food Insecurity Service Day, hundreds of FFA members will pack over 150,000 meals while fairgoers bring their donations to make a difference. During Governor’s, Legislators’ & Judges’ Day, state and agriculture leaders will join to assemble food kits for those facing emergency needs. Working collaboratively, in 2023 this effort raised 1,200,389 meals for Feeding Missouri and it’s six affiliate food banks and over 1,500 partner agencies.

Missouri Farmers Care Foundation invites companies, organizations and individuals to join the Drive to Feed Kids. Details and a link to give at www.mofarmerscare.com/drive. All donations support the Drive and the work of Feeding Missouri network food banks who work daily to alleviate hunger.

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.

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.