Clark County Food Bank Receives 6,022 lbs of Meat from YEAH/JLA
Youth Efforts Against Hunger and Junior Livestock Auction Activities at Clark County Fair Result in High-Protein Food to Fight Hunger
Online, September 7, 2010 (Newswire.com) - VANCOUVER, WA., -- Clark County Food Bank will be distributing 6,022 pounds of meat and poultry thanks to a generous donation from YEAH/JLA. Youth Efforts Against Hunger (YEAH) and Junior Livestock Auction (JLA) combined forces and kicked off Hunger Action Month (September) early, with a donation of over three tons of meat - an increase of 220% over last year's YEAH donation.
On Friday, 6,022 pounds of donated meat were transported to the Stop Hunger Warehouse, the distribution center for Clark County Food Bank. This locally grown food will be distributed to neighborhood food pantries within weeks and will be much appreciated by those facing food insecurity in Clark County - where eight in every one hundred residents are unsure of the source of their next meal.
"We thank JLA and YEAH and all the generous supporters who purchased and donated meat to be distributed by the food bank. This donation provides a great opportunity to offer high-quality protein to clients of our local food pantries" said Jim Youde, Vice-Chair of the Clark County Food Bank. "We applaud the commitment displayed by our area youth to fighting hunger in our community."
According to JLA Chairman, Kelley Babcock "The YEAH program offers a great way to keep locally grown livestock, raised by Clark County youth, in Clark County and to help families in need. YEAH would like to thank the businesses, families and youth that have contributed to this program. Their contributions enable YEAH to purchase the meat at market price and have it processed for food bank distribution."
About Clark County Food Bank
Clark County Food Bank serves 25 local agencies in the fight to end hunger. Through the Stop Hunger Warehouse, we distributed 3.3 million pounds of food in FY 2009-10, providing food for 109,000 emergency food boxes. Forty per cent of the food box recipients were children.
About JLA (Junior Livestock Auction)
Each August, during the Clark County Fair, kids in 4-H and FFA Market Animal Programs bring their animals to the auction ring. The audience - composed of local farmers, politicians, business owners, youth families, and other happy fair-goers - bids on the livestock.
This project touches on the idea of community, healthy youth development, rural life, food security, locally raised meat, healthy lifestyles, agricultural and environmental sustain-ability, and of course, down home fun at the auction. JLA offers attendees the chance to buy natural locally grown meats. Proceeds from the sale go directly to the youth who have raised the animal through the Market Animal Project. Contact: Kelley Babcock at (360) 687-5525.
About YEAH (Youth Efforts Against Hunger)
The YEAH Program is run through the Junior Livestock Auction and provides high-quality meat and poultry for less fortunate members of our community. Through the Junior Livestock Auction bidders donate money or turn the animal they buy at the auction, for the benefit of food insecure residents of Clark County. The YEAH Program provides the funds for the cut and wrap of the meat which is then delivered to the Clark County Food Bank.
This year, YEAH bidders donated: 9 hogs, 14 lambs, 4 goats, plus poultry and rabbits. From cash contributions, YEAH paid for the processing of all the donated food, and, in addition, purchased and donated: 9.5 hogs, 1 beef and 20 lambs. Contacts: Phil Reister at (360) 883-0580 or Kelley Babcock (360) 687-5525.
SOURCE: Clark County Food Bank