Dot Foods, one of the area's largest employers, recently awarded a grant to the Schuyler County Starburst 4-H Club worth $1,000. The grant consists of a $500 cash grant, as well as $500 in Dot Country Store credit for use toward their Chow for Children campaign to provide meals for families in need.
"This is a huge help for our program," said Sandy Heaton, Starburst 4-H Club leader. "Contributions like this are what make it possible for us to provide healthy meals for families who may not otherwise be getting them."
Chow for Children is a project to provide meals for children and their families every Friday on a weekly basis from May 25 through August 17. Roughly 300 people are projected to be served every Friday by the campaign. The program provides healthy options, eliminating junk food such as potato chips, cookies and desserts in favor of smarter food choices. The Dot Country Store credit may be used for the purchase of food items at the Dot Country Store in Mt. Sterling, Ill.
About Schuyler County Starburst 4-H Club
The 4-H program encourages building new friendships, discovering new talents and embarking on new adventures by emphasizing the importance of "learning by doing." 4-H allows members the opportunity to select project areas that are of interest to them. Over 200 projects are available. 4-H is an informal educational program for boys and girls who are ages 8-18 as of September 1 regardless of where they live.