Angus youth help fight hunger at the 2013 NJAS

As many as 66,000 people each week are fed by Harvesters, a community food network in Kansas City. This summer, Angus youth are teaming up with the regional food bank by participating in a drive before and during the 2013 National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) in Kansas City, Mo.

The food drive will have two phases-a virtual food drive and a canned/boxed food drive. The virtual food drive started May 15 and will continue until Noon central Wednesday, July 10. States can log on and donate money toward the purchase of meals for Harvesters. Each dollar donated equals five meals that Harvesters will be able to provide for those in need. The states that provide the most meals in the virtual food drive will be recognized during the NJAS awards ceremony. To donate for your state, please visit http://www.2013njas.harvesters.org.

The canned food drive will take place during the week of the show. The Missouri juniors are challenging exhibitors from each state to drop canned or boxed goods into Harvesters donation barrels. The goal is to fill up a Harvester truck that will be taken back to the warehouse and distributed through their vast network.

Items needed most for the canned food drive include:

· Canned vegetables

· Canned fruit

· Boxed meals/Hamburger Helper

· Canned meat/tuna

· Peanut butter

· Canned soup

· Cereal-hot and cold

· Bar soap

· Deodorant

· Shampoo

· Toilet paper

Harvesters work weekly with more than 620 non-profit agencies. They provide food to those in need through emergency food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, children’s homes, homes for the mentally disabled and shelters for battered persons. Adults and children age 8 or older can volunteer in the Harvesters warehouse in Kansas City anytime during the show. For more information, contact Susan Rhode at 816-261-4821.

For more news and information from the 2013 NJAS, visit http://www.ANGUS.org to find contest results, awards, scholarships and show photos. Backdrop and candid photos will be available for purchase online. Coverage will be available on the NJAA Facebook page, as well.

Also, plan to tune in to a special NJAS episode of The Angus Report at 7:30 a.m. (central) Monday, July 22 on RFD-TV.