When Rooks County Farm Bureau’s coordinator received a message from a school administrator asking if she knew of any grants or assistance to support a family in need of food security, unfortunately, the initial answer was a “not yet.”  

 The family, a single mother of three who had recently gained custody of her niece and nephew, needed support. 

The initial answer of “not yet” was turned around when the topic was brought to the attention of the Rooks County Farm Bureau board of directors. The board decided to step up to help this family in their county. They applied for and received an End Hunger Grant, through Kansas Farm Bureau.  

Kansas Farm Bureau’s End Hunger Grant assist communities fighting food insecurities. The campaign funds are returned to county Farm Bureaus through the End Hunger Match and End Hunger Grant programs. 

Rooks County Farm Bureau applied for the grant to help this individual family at first, but the effort extended to more families.

The Challenge of Food Insecurity 

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as “the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.”  

According to Feeding America, in 2022, 11.4 percent (about 560 people) of Rooks County was food insecure.  

Single-income households, particularly those led by women, are the most affected by food insecurity. These families often depend on school lunches and programs as a primary source of nutrition for their children. However, during winter break, those resources disappear—creating a critical gap. This is where Rooks County Farm Bureau stepped in to help not just one family, but several.

Expanding the Impact 

Rooks County Farm Bureau contacted administration at the other schools in the county and asked how they could assist through the grant. In the first year, three families each received $350 worth of groceries and hygiene products. 

“The hope of this project was to supply the children of these families with food over the holiday break when free school lunches were not accessible,” says Rooks County Farm Bureau Coordinator, Jess Beasly. 

By the second year, the program expanded to reach six families receiving $400 worth of groceries and hygiene products each.  

“Groceries consisted of healthy options that students could prepare on their own as many of the students are home alone most of the time,” Beasly says. “Also included in the groceries was food for each family to make a traditional Christmas dinner. Along with the groceries, families were provided with recipe ideas, nutrition information, a Christmas card, and various agriculture education information based on the age of children in the home.” 

The work of pick-up, packaging, drop off and additional donations, including a donation of a ham for each family, was left to seven Rook County Farm Bureau members. Beasly says because of these efforts, they now have a better understanding of the needs of youth and families in their county.  

From One Family to Many 

What began as an attempt to assist one family through the holiday season has turned into a continual project involving many families, volunteers and thousands of dollars of grant money. 

Rooks County Farm Bureau is dedicated to serving community members to meet their needs. 

“Unfortunately, we didn’t truly understand how needed a program like this was in our county,” Beasley says. “The undeniable win was knowing these children would have their nutritional needs met during the holiday break.” 

Rooks County Farm Bureau now understands the magnitude of what addressing food insecurity in a community can be. It now supports multiple families each year through grants and donations. By addressing food insecurity during critical times, like the holiday break, Rooks County Farm Bureau has created a lasting impact in the county, ensuring children and families receive the support they need. 

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