Minnesota 4-H program tackles food insecurity with youth-led solutions

Across Minnesota, food shelves are facing unprecedented demand. In response, the 4-H Food Partner Challenge is empowering young people to make a difference. 

Funded by Compeer Financial, the grant program provides 4-H clubs with $500 to enact youth-led projects in partnership with local food assistance programs. 

The goal is to move beyond simple food drives and create sustainable, youth-led projects that address the root causes of food insecurity. Of the projects funded last year, these stood out for their creativity and community impact. 

Happier birthdays, thanks to Moe 4-H Club 

Greta F. of the Moe 4-H Club in Douglas County shared a direct thank-you to donors who helped make her project, to assemble celebration cake kits for the local food pantry, possible. 

“Thank you for selecting my project for a Food Partner Challenge Grant. My club enjoyed having the opportunity to put together kits to help families celebrate a birthday or special event. We were able to deliver eleven cake kits to our local food shelf and ten cake kits to our local United Way. Each kit had everything needed to bake a cake and decorate it. We also included plates, napkins and silverware. We had some remaining funds and purchased flour, sugar and peanut butter for the food shelf as well. Thank you again for helping us help others.” 

Aspelund Ever-Readies 4-H Club combat rising costs of grocery staples 

Aspelund Ever-Readies 4-H Club of Goodhue County 4-H used their grant for the “Cluck, Cluck, Moo” project. 

They monitored the prices of milk and eggs, grocery staples that their local food shelf distributes weekly. 

Eighteen 4-H members and their parents signed up to purchase and deliver dozens of eggs and half-gallons of milk weekly to the local food shelf, trying to maximize the use of their grant dollars among price fluctuations. 

Each family documented their grocery trips with photos, copies of store receipts and statements about their experiences over eight weeks. 

One of the most significant lessons the club members learned was how many food shelf donors provide dry goods like macaroni and cheese, brownie mixes and cereal, but how rare it is for shelves to receive the butter, milk and eggs needed to prepare them.

Club member Hanna G. says: “It was apparent what a big burden it is to purchase healthy food for a struggling family. I am glad our club got the opportunity to help our local food shelf out. Thank you to the food challenge donors for making this project available.” 

Cleveland Pioneers 4-H Club fuel young minds with healthy snacks 

Cleveland Pioneers 4-H Club used the $500 award to purchase healthy snacks for their local elementary school’s snack cart that goes out daily to provide healthy snacks for children who might not always have access to nutritious options. 

Their 4-H club also recruited the local heavenly hunks brand to contribute over 250 mini-oatmeal snacks to the cart. 

The club also rallied their local American Legion to match the donation, providing an additional $500 to help purchase healthy snacks. 

“It's amazing to think that something as simple as a snack can have such a positive impact on a student's day. Whether it's helping them stay focused in class or giving them a little boost of energy, I'm glad that our contribution can make a difference. I've learned that even small actions can create meaningful change, and I'm inspired to continue finding ways to support causes that matter,” say Addison and Tracee, club members. 

Bloomfield Cloverleaves cook crockpot meals for the community 

The Bloomfield Cloverleaves of Fillmore County used their grant to create the "Booking It To Better Health" initiative. 

Club members compiled their favorite crockpot recipes into printed cookbooks. They also purchased crockpots during holiday sales to maximize their funds. 

The club's initial plan to distribute these items at a local food shelf evolved into a community-wide cooking demonstration at the public library.

On March 4, four club members led a cooking demonstration for 16 community members, showcasing recipes for chicken and rice, buffalo chicken dip, creamy chicken tacos and tortilla soup. 

A tasting followed the demonstration, and eight attendees received a free crockpot and cookbook. The remaining crockpots and cookbooks were donated to the local food shelf. 

Attendees surveyed after the event found the recipes easy to follow and useful for preparing healthy, home-cooked meals. One attendee was particularly excited, stating, “I am excited to try all these recipes with my family (children ages 3, 9 and 9). They are all easy to follow and recipes everyone will eat (picky eaters).” 

Cameron 4-H Club stocks staples and snacks

The Cameron 4-H Club received a Food Partner Challenge grant, along with matching club funds, to address food insecurity in their community. 

With a total budget of $1,000, the club collaborated with the Murray County Food Shelf to identify the most impactful way to help. 

They learned that, while holiday meals were well-covered by other donors, the food shelf struggled to consistently stock "normal" staples due to cost. This inspired the club to focus their efforts on providing a mix of essential items and some special treats.

The club members were divided into five teams, each with a $200 budget and a shopping list of "needs" (like brown sugar, peanut butter and canned goods) and "nice-to-haves" (such as cereal and snacks). 

The project became a valuable lesson in consumer science for the members, teaching them to differentiate between needs and wants and how to budget for groceries. 

The teams shopped and checked out separately to see how well they managed their budgets, with the closest team winning a prize. 

Ultimately, the club spent just over their budget, providing more than $1,000 worth of groceries to Murray County families in need. The project not only benefited the community but also gave the young shoppers a new perspective on the challenges of budgeting for a family.

Pleasant Valley 4-H Club fills Thanksgiving plates 

John V., a 10th grader from Waconia High School, and fellow members of the Pleasant Valley 4-H Club undertook a project to combat food insecurity and inflation in their community. 

Using a Helping Hands grant, their club created and donated 10 Thanksgiving meal bundles to Gather and Grow, a local food shelf that provides affordable food to Waconia families. 

The project was conceived to ensure that "everybody should be able to have a warm, affordable Thanksgiving meal." 

The club price-checked local stores and sent members to shop for the necessary ingredients to create well-rounded Thanksgiving bundles. The items were then assembled at a local coffee shop. Members of all ages worked together to ensure each basket was complete with all the required items. 

The finished bundles were delivered to Gather and Grow, where they were so well received that John says, "a few of the baskets had already been taken before we were even finished!" 

Cottonwood County 4-H’ers team up with seniors to give back 

The Westbrook-Rosehill 4-H Club of Cottonwood County created "birthday kits" for their local food pantry. 

After consulting with Mary and Martha’s Food Pantry in Westbrook, the club learned they needed birthday kits made up of a cake mix, frosting and a pan. 

The club received $500, and with the help of the local grocery store manager, they were able to stretch their budget to include a variety of extra items, such as cooking spray, a spatula, balloons and a banner. 

This thoughtfulness turned a simple kit into a truly special birthday celebration for 30 families in their community.

The club came together on March 17 for a packing day. It was an intergenerational event held at Peterson’s Estates Assisted Living, where the club regularly volunteers. 

Fourteen 4-H members, along with two leaders and 10 family members, worked alongside the assisted living residents in an assembly line to pack the kits and make decorative bows. 

The collaborative effort not only made the packing day a success, but also fostered a deep sense of community. At the end of the event, one resident, speaking with great emotion, shared how proud she was of the 4-H members and how important it is to take care of one another.