Many Missouri families face food insecurity. This means they struggle to put enough food on their tables. Missouri 4-H is continuing its partnership with Feeding Missouri and Missouri Farmers Care Drive to Feed Kids to not only educate about this issue, but to do something about it.
All of the state’s more than 1,600 4-H clubs, serving youth ages 5 to 18, are invited to participate in this year’s friendly competition among counties to donate the most meals through donations of volunteer hours, food and monetary contributions. As a state, we have a goal of raising 500,000 meals by April 30, 2021.
Food insecurity impacts people in the local community. More than 4,700 youth in Jasper County are food insecure. Twenty-four percent of youth in Jasper County are considered to be below the poverty line, which is higher than that of the state of Missouri.
Here’s how Jasper County 4-H is contributing to the goal of raising half a million meals for food banks and pantries statewide!
Who: Sarah Townley, 4-H YPA in Jasper County
What: 4-H Feeding Missouri food drive. The event is being led by the county’s Teen Council group. Teens are leading their individual clubs in collecting food donations for local food pantries. Additionally, the teen council will be committing volunteer hours to local organizations that impact food insecurity in the Jasper County community.
Where: To donate, you can bring canned or shelf-stable food items to the MU Extension office in Jasper County at
302 S. Main Street
Courthouse Basement
Carthage, MO 64836
You can also donate by text at 4HFM2021 to 44-321 or online at https://feedingmissouri.org/4h/.
When: Jasper County 4-H will be accepting food donations through April 30. If your organization helps feed our community and needs volunteers, please contact the Extension office at (417) 358-2158.
Why: To help fill the shelves of our local food pantry and spread awareness of how widespread hunger is in Missouri.
It’s all about Missourians helping Missourians fight hunger.
