The Kansas Health Foundation has awarded $300,000 to Kansas State University to fund grants for several Kansas communities in its initiative to combat hunger. The Hunger Free Kansas mini-grants, ranging from $2,500 to $30,000, will be distributed to 20 extension units, where local agents will lead programs focused on improving food security and anti-hunger efforts.

These grants will initially impact 33 of Kansas’ 105 counties. According to Feeding America, 1 in 8 Kansans and 1 in 5 Kansas children experience food insecurity. The mini-grant program was announced by Ed O’Malley, CEO of the Kansas Health Foundation, during K-State’s Research and Extension annual conference last October.

Approximately $250,000 of the funding will support local extension offices, with programs expected to begin in March and end by the year’s close. Proposed initiatives include using Community Health Workers at food pantries, training volunteers for SNAP assistance, upgrading food pantries, and expanding community gardens and school projects.

“K-State Research and Extension has extension agents who are already embedded in every county in our state,” said Clara Misenhelter, a program manager with K-State’s Rural Grocery Initiative. “These agents know their communities and are well-connected to incredible partners who are already doing essential work. This funding is an amazing opportunity to catalyze our network of agents and change makers in pursuit of a common goal to eradicate hunger in Kansas.”

The awarded local extension offices and their project titles include:

• Barber County – Barber County Beef & Veggies.
• Central Kansas District – Charting the Path to Food Equity: A Strategic Community Food Assessment for Saline County.
• Central Kansas District – Nourishing Our Seniors: Ensuring County-Wide Meal Support.
• Cowley County – Growing Food is Medicine in Cowley County.
• Cowley County – Improving Food Access through SNAP and Area Food Pantries.
• Extension Nutrition Program – K-State Food Assistance Outreach Program.
• Flint Hills District – Full Plates, Bright Futures.
• Frontier District – Enhancing the Richmond Food Pantry in the Frontier Extension District.
• Hamilton County – Take a Bite Out of Hunger in Hamilton County.
• Harvey County – Increasing SNAP enrollment in Harvey County.
• Lyon County – Nourish Our Neighbors.
• Marais des Cygnes District – My Father’s House Kitchen and Cooking Project.
• Marshall County – Supporting Social Service Access in Marshall County.
• Post Rock District – Post Rock District Food Pantry Enrichment.
• Pratt County – Pratt County Farm to Freezer.
• Reno County – Reno County Local Food Advocate.
• Riley County – Stock the Box – Filling a Gap with Community.
• River Valley District – Expanding Local Food Access to Low-Resource Households in Cloud County.
• Sedgwick County – Community Health Worker: The Next Step.
• Shawnee County – Community Garden for SENT’s Southside Filling Station food pantry and Farm-to-Food Truck: Inclusive Workforce Development Program.
• Southwind District – Rural Pantry Network Initiative.
• Wildcat District – Increasing Healthy Snacking and Food Literacy in Vulnerable Populations.