Kansas may grow a lot of food, but that doesn't mean it always gets to the people who need it most.
The state's 866 4-H clubs have a plan to change that.
As part of their 100th anniversary, each 4-H club in Kansas will spend a year gathering food or funding for local food pantries and soup kitchens.
"The biggest thing we're trying to do with the program is educate our youth that there is a problem even here," said Kim Davis, Douglas County 4-H agent. "Every time we do that, we're one step closer to solving the problem."
According to the Kansas Nutrition Network, one in 10 Kansas households reports an inability to access enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle.
Davis said that the county's dozen 4-H clubs previously had donated to food pantries, but would make a stronger push this year. And with approximately 1,000 Douglas County 4-H members, Davis said the clubs could provide a nice boost to pantry stockpiles.
Nellie Barnhar, left, and Terry Gallegos fill boxes with food items for distribution at the Ballard Community Center, 708 Elm. The two women were volunteering at the center Thursday.
"These youths will come up with some good, innovative ideas. I'm sure of that," Davis said.
Margaret Pendleton, a senior at Lawrence High and president of the Douglas County 4-H Council, said some 4-H members earlier this year volunteered at the Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen.
"Once we get everybody in 4-H involved, we can make a big difference," Pendleton said. "There's a lot of us."
Lawrence food pantries said they were excited about the prospects. Paul Hunt - who oversees a food pantry at the Ballard Community Center, which typically provides goods for 105 people per week - said he was most excited about the long-term benefits the program could have.
"I had some kids come in here last year as part of a Girl Scout program," Hunt said. "But this year several of them came back to help just because they wanted to. That is what is really cool.
"I think these type of programs work. If you educate kids at a young age, it will stick. They start feeling a sense of responsibility."
The effort officially will get started Sept. 10 at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson and will run through next year's state fair. Davis said 4-H felt it was important that the program run an entire year to show that giving is a full-time activity.
"Everybody wants to give in December as you get closer to the holidays," Davis said. "But one of the things we try to teach them is that this needs to be a year-round process."
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