Through her role as club secretary Addie Sandhurst was helping her mom prepare for an upcoming 4-H meeting when they came across a grant opportunity through the University of Minnesota Extension service. The grant, Food Partner Challenge, awards funds to 4-H clubs to partner with a local food shelf, food assistance program, or food organization to address food insecurity in their communities. Each 4-H group is provided with $500 to come up with an idea and turn it into a service project. What that idea looks like and how it’s put into action is entirely up to 4-H youth, supporting adults and their partnerships. The project must be youth-led to be eligible. The Food Partner Challenge is funded by a gift from Compeer Financial to the Helping Hands Fund and by generous support and donors to the 4-H General Fund.
Last year the club reached out to the elementary school to see what one of their biggest needs were for the upcoming year (school supplies, backpacks, snacks, etc). Addie remembered that one of the most consistent responses was snacks for the elementary students to help keep their minds fueled for learning. Addie came up with the idea of helping provide healthy snacks to the Cleveland Snack Cart for all kids (whether they can financially afford it or not). With the idea, Addie and her mom, Tracee, worked closely with Monica Manzey to help bring this initiative to life.
The grant donation of $500 was provided to the school to help purchase healthy snacks for the snack cart. Monica stated it would help purchase about 14 cases of snacks for them to use throughout the year. They will be filling the cart with additional fruit cups, smoothies, yogurt parfaits, and more!
heavenly hunks® Donation: In her efforts to help secure additional snacks for students, she looked at how she could help beyond the grant and reached out to a couple of local companies. One of the companies Addie connected with is a Minnesota-based company known for its commitment to real, wholesome ingredients, packed with flavor while being non-GMO, gluten-free, and vegan. The owner of heavenly hunks®, without hesitation, made an incredible donation of over 250 heavenly hunks® minis to the Cleveland Public School snack cart. This generous act reflects the company’s mission to create feel-good healthy snacks while giving back to the community. A huge thank you from our Cleveland Pioneers 4-H Club and Clipper community to Casey, Heidi, and the entire heavenly hunks® team for their generosity.
Future Community Impacts from our Club: The club has also secured another donation from the Cleveland American Legion of an additional $500 that we will donate to the school in the fall to help continue their efforts of offering healthy snacks for all kids. Thank you to the legion for always being a great partner and supporting our school and local programs!
Pictured are Cleveland Pioneers 4-H Club Officers; Jacquelyn Heldberg (Vice President), Marshall Heldberg (Treasurer), Addison Sandhurst (Secretary), and Clippers Kitchen Staff; Nancy Rezac & Monica Manzey
Not pictured: Samantha Baker (President), & Taylor Wolf (Reporter)