More than 400 Missouri FFA members took to heart Tuesday morning the fourth line of the FFA motto, “living to serve,” as they along with corporate sponsors from several organizations took part in Missouri’s first FFA Food Insecurity Day.
In less than two hours, those who took part packaged 50,000 child-friendly nutritious meals of macaroni and cheese in an effort to help provide food to those who are hungry across the state.
“The face of hunger isn’t what we think,” Steve Boyett, program director for Meals of Hope, told those present during his opening remarks. “The end of food insecurity is not going to happen today. It is always going to be here.
“What we are here to do today is to provide food for people who are hungry,” he added. “Feeding Missouri starts local and that’s why we are here.”
Tuesday morning’s event was a joint effort by Missouri Farmers Care, Brownfield Ag News, Monsanto, Feeding Missouri, the Missouri State Fair and the Missouri Future Farmers of America (FFA).
Mariah Fox, first vice president of Missouri’s FFA, commented that those who face food insecurity are often closer than one may realize.
“It’s heart-wrenching to watch kids who are hungry,” Fox said. “One in three children faces food insecurity on a regular basis and some of them may be sitting here today.
“We’re working to change that,” Fox added. “Through our efforts maybe that number will become one in 25 or one in 50 …”
“Food insecurity is not a ‘loud cause,’ but rather is one that people suffer with quietly,” Scott Baker, executive director of Feeding Missouri, explained.
Baker represents Missouri’s network of six regional food banks across the state that serve 1,500 food pantries across Missouri.
“This may not be the most successful year ever,” Baker said, “But it is the most hopeful.
“It stands to reason that we can help to feed the world,” he added. “Just by connecting the dots as we are today makes so much sense in that effort.”
The FFA members present gave up perhaps one of the last days of their summer break to help in the cause.
Dr. Alan Wessler, of Missouri Farmers Care, told those gathered it was important for them to realize that while their work was greatly appreciated and successful, it was more important for them to lead a life of significance and continue in their efforts of living to serve.
“Today we have corporate executives, state FFA leaders, teachers and students coming together to serve and help provide much needed meals to less fortunate people in Missouri,” Boyett told the Democrat as the meals were first being packaged. “It’s a great opportunity to learn of the need and to work to meet it too.”
