TKHS students Jordan Parks and Remington Lowing wrote the grant as part of an English class assignment. The project asked students to identify a need or problem in their world and then try to find a way to help.
Parks and Lowing said they know teachers often buy snacks out of their own pockets so that all students will have a healthy snack option during the day. Knowing the grant was available, the two decided to try and secure the funding for the district.
The triple-up grant gave a total of $900 to the district. Food Service Director Jessica Endres split the funds between all schools to supply more than five cases of snacks for all buildings.
Local Farm Bureau Insurance agent Jason Parks and Barry County Farm Bureau each donated $300 to Thornapple Kellogg. The Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan Agent Charitable Fund (ACF) matched an additional $300, for a total of $900.
Endres said the funds are greatly appreciated. “There aren't funds left in the district for classroom snacks and the teachers and staff are using their own money to buy the snacks for hungry kids in need. I split the funds up and purchased snacks for each building,” she said.
The Michigan Agent Charitable fund will award more than $18,000 in grants to hunger relief organizations in 2023. The ACF, whose mission is to end hunger in Michigan, is a donor-designated fund administered through the Michigan Foundation for Agriculture.
The Michigan Foundation for Agriculture, a 501(c)(3) governed by Michigan Farm Bureau’s board of directors, positively contributes to the future of Michigan agriculture through leadership and educational programming. Through grant programs like Feeding the Future, Farm Bureau agents, clients and partners provide food and educational programs to Michigan residents struggling with hunger and aid the more than 3,000 hunger-relief agencies throughout the state.