The 2020 Missouri Farmers Care Drive to Feed Kids looked a little different but the mission became more critical in the midst of a pandemic.
In May, the Missouri Pork Association and Missouri Farmers Care united to create the Pork Partnership to help bridge the gap between Missourians in need and pork producers who faced a reduction in processing availability due to coronavirus-related slowdowns. Missouri pork producers donated 611 hogs, providing 69,670 pounds of ground pork — 318,000 servings of protein — to Feeding Missouri.
Missouri 4-H and FFA initiated major community service activities. This spring, 4-H members provided 297,132 meals for Feeding Missouri during their four-month 4-H Feeding Missouri campaign.
Missouri FFA Association partnered with the Drive to Feed Kids for a fourth year. Even though FFA members were not able to gather for their statewide service day at the Missouri State Fair, 63 FFA chapters received a $300 mini-grant. Projects ranged from local meal and blessing box packing events, raising broiler chickens for local senior citizens, providing milk for a weekly backpack program and Thanksgiving baskets for families in need.
Missourians met a 50,000 meals challenge by giving individual donations. These contributions, along with $1,145 raised by FCS Financial employees, allowed Missouri agriculture to reach its goal. Missouri Soybean Association matched every dollar for a grand total of $10,000.
According to Feeding America, more than 800,000 Missourians faced food insecurity in Missouri before COVID-19. With increased unemployment and the challenges of this year, Feeding America projects that number has increased by 39% to 1.1 million.
For more information, visit MOFarmersCare.com/drive.
