Drive to Feed Kids

Kids in bright yellow shirts stand in a building with a Feeding Missouri trucki in the backgrounds. The enviorment suggests food packing.

Date and Time

Monday, August 17 - Tuesday, August 18

Location

Fairgrounds

The Challenge – Childhood Food Insecurity in Missouri

  • According to the latest data from Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap, 1 in 6 kids across the state of Missouri are food insecure.
  • Many food-insecure households are in rural and farm communities whose productivity feeds the world and provides low-cost wholesome food for American consumers.
  • No Missouri county is free of child food insecurity.
  • Kids are our future, and they can’t do anything about their situation.
  • When disasters strike the Feeding Missouri network is at the front lines helping communities in times of need.

The Solution – Drive to Feed Kids

Missouri Farmers Care and partners started the Drive to Feed Kids in 2017 to engage Missourians in combating hunger. The Drive has provided over 13.7 million meals for hungry Missourians. The Drive equips and inspires Missouri agriculture, 4-H and FFA members to stand in the gap for Missouri children facing food insecurity. Drive to Feed Kids will benefit hungry Missouri families in every county of the state. With over 248,000 children facing hunger, our 2026 goals are as big as the challenge:

The Plan

  • The year-long Drive will culminate at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia.
  • Missouri FFA members and agriculture leaders will spend two days at the Missouri State Fair to pack over 250,000 meals.
  • Monday, August 17 and Tuesday, August 18 – On Missouri FFA’s Food Insecurity Day 800 FFA members and ag leaders will pack 250,000 meals.
  • The Drive To Feed Kids – Hogs For Hunger will once again be partnering with Missouri State Fair barrow exhibitors to provide pork to families in need.
  • Missouri Farmers Care will provide a stipend for up to 50 donated hogs. One donated hog feeds up to 525 people.
  • Hogs will be loaded out on August 15. Missouri Farmers Care and Feeding Missouri will pay for processing at Kempf’s Custom Butchering. Pork will be donated to Missouri food banks.
  • Fairgoers will be invited to do their part, on Missouri Farmers Care $2 Tuesday, they will donate funds and non-perishable food items to equip food banks to feed children and families.
  • Tuesday, August 18 – As a part of the Missouri Farmers Care Food Drive $2 Tuesday, fairgoers can enter the Missouri State Fair for $2 with a minimum donation of 2 canned food items or a minimum $2 donation.
  • Statewide, Drive To Feed Kids grants equip FFA, 4-H, and collegiate and CTE organizations to address hunger in their communities – local solutions for local needs.

How you can join – Donate

Join the cause – visit www.MoFarmersCare.com/drive to donate and/or bring 2 cans of food or a minimum $2 donation to the Missouri State Fair on Tuesday, August 18, and receive $2 admission.