Kendall County 4-H Federation members gave back to their community by supporting local food bank organizations, including the Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIFB) in Geneva. The group helped pack 651 "backpacks" which will provide for 11,718 meals for hungry residents in the region.

The 4-H Federation also conducted the annual Bowl-A-Thon fundraiser and collected $3,000 for the Kendall County Food Pantry. A $1 donation can purchase up to $6 of food via the NIFB; thus the 4-H donation may result in $18,000 in food for local neighbors in need. The 4-H Federation is a small group of high-school-age 4-H youth from throughout the county, who together plan, organize and execute leadership and service projects in Kendall County.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Judy Mae Bingman, University of Illinois Extension Marketing and Communications Manager

Judy uses powerful words and photography to tell the Extension story. She is a skilled communication strategist and storyteller with demonstrated success in building teams and creating strong organizational brand identities that deepen Extension’s impact among key audiences, build brand loyalty, strengthen employee talent, and expand public engagement. She is a frequent conference presenter at the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents Conference and helps Extension staff across the nation tell compelling stories.