Food Bank youth program inspires next generation of leaders
(KRCG ) - The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri is helping develop the next generation of community leaders through hands-on opportunities that connect students with the fight against hunger.
The organization’s Ballard Youth Leadership Program gives high school students across its 32-county service area the chance to learn more about food insecurity while putting their leadership skills into action.
During the program’s fourth cohort this spring, students completed individual projects designed to support the Food Bank’s mission. Projects included community events, fundraising efforts that raised more than $1,700, and a new online recipe resource created by Rock Bridge High School senior Aayan Behura.
Aayan built a searchable website that allows neighbors to find Food Bank recipes based on ingredients they already have available. Before the project, the recipes were stored in a Google Drive, making them more difficult to navigate.
“I think the biggest thing is just making it easier for people to find opportunities and get involved,” Aayan said. “You can really set yourself up to do a lot of different things that you might find very interesting.”
After completing the youth leadership program, Aayan continued volunteering with the Food Bank’s Communications team, helping improve the organization’s website and making resources easier for community members to access.
Nutrition Education Manager John Coleman said projects like Aayan’s show how young leaders can make a lasting impact.
“I am a big proponent of engaging our community in any way we can when it comes to educating them about food insecurity and helping people know how they can make an impact,” Coleman said.
Coleman said the new recipe database will help the Food Bank better connect neighbors with nutrition resources throughout Columbia and the organization’s 32-county service area.
The Food Bank is also focused on professional growth for its own employees through a program called Food Bank U. The internal development program allows staff members to learn about different departments through training, job shadowing, and educational sessions.
Chief Human Resources Officer Penny Kuhns-Knarr said the goal is to create opportunities for employees to continue learning and advancing their careers.
“We really do try to offer growth and learning opportunities within the organizational structure,” Kuhns-Knarr said.
Food Bank U sessions can include everything from nutrition education and grant writing to forklift training and learning more about how different teams support the organization’s overall mission.
For Aayan, the experience provided a chance to combine his interest in technology with his desire to help others.
“I want to use technology to help the public in some sort of way,” Aayan said.
The Food Bank’s next Ballard Youth Leadership Program cohort will open applications later this year for students interested in learning more about hunger, leadership, and community service.