JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – On Thursday, April 17, Missouri agricultural leaders joined Governor & First Lady Claudia Kehoe, members of the Missouri House and Senate and Missouri Department of Agriculture leaders in the State Capitol to pack 12,096 meals for food insecure Missourians. The event was an element of the year-long Missouri Farmers Care Foundation Drive to Feed Kids, presented in partnership with Brownfield Ag News and ADM.
One in seven children in the state of Missouri are food insecure. Food security is not a rural or urban issue, with childhood hunger affecting every county in the state. Food insecurity in childhood is associated with poor academic performance, developmental delays and chronic illness.
“Drive to Feed Kids partners stand in the gap between the productivity of farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses providing food, and the disparity for neighbors who don’t see that abundance on their dinner tables,” said Missouri Farmers Care Executive Director Ashley McCarty. “Through the Drive, we want to help every Missouri child with opportunities to fulfill their potential.”
Governor Mike Kehoe called legislators to join him in action during his State of the State address. Several members of the Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate joined the packing event.
“Claudia and I were proud to participate in this week’s Missouri Farmers Care Drive to Feed Kids at the Capitol,” said Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe. “Thank you to all the legislators and agriculture partners who helped pack meals. In parts of Missouri, one in three kids face food insecurity and these meal packing events make a significant difference in the fight against hunger.”
The Missouri Farmers Care Foundation Drive to Feed Kids launched in 2017 to build partnerships among nonprofits, farmers and agricultural businesses committed to raising awareness and addressing hunger in Missouri. The Drive creates opportunities for the agriculture community to share how science, stewardship and technology equip them to responsibly produce food for our communities and world.
“Drive to Feed Kids events are dear to my heart,” said Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn. “I am blown away by the impact these meal-packing events have on food insecure children, especially those in our rural communities. Thank you to Governor and First Lady Kehoe and the agriculture groups who came together today for such a worthy cause.”
The Drive’s year-long effort includes meal packing, hog processing and activities to collect food and raise resources. A goal of the Drive is to inspire youth and agriculture groups to come together to host events and activities to serve their food insecure neighbors.
“The heart of Missouri agriculture is displayed through the Drive to Feed Kids,” continued McCarty. “Missouri farmers and ranchers work diligently to care for land and livestock and invest in their communities, the Drive to Feed Kids is an extension of that stewardship.”
Over the past eight years, Missouri agriculture has donated more than 13 million meals to food insecure Missourians in every county through the Drive. Individuals, organizations and companies interested in joining the Drive to Feed Kids can find details and a giving link 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 in every Missouri county and the city of St. Louis.