In 2015, then-10-year-old Mackenzie “Kenzie” Hinson was a member of Jordan’s Chapel and Bowevelle 4-H clubs when her life changed forever. “I did a speech, ‘Hunger in Our Communities,’ for a 4-H competition and learned how many people in my community and state suffer from hunger,” she said. “It was a problem right here!”
Knowing that hunger was in her own community moved Kenzie to volunteer at local food pantries. Though satisfying, it just wasn’t enough; she wanted to offer something more – dignity. That’s when she took the leap from volunteer to director of her own non-profit, the Make a Difference (MAD) Food Pantry(link is external) in Mount Olive.She established the Make A Difference Food Pantry to fight hunger in North Carolina. The food pantry has since grown to include a fixed food distribution site; mobile feeding programs for the elderly and children; and outreach pantries to reach even more North Carolinians in need. Kenzie operates the food pantry with support from her parents and volunteers, as well as generous donations from individuals and organizations.
USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture is the home of 4-H National Headquarters. The 4-H Youth Development Program is the youth outreach program from the land-grant institutions’ cooperative extension services. 4-H creates positive learning experiences; positive relationships for and between youth and adults; positive, safe environments; and opportunities for positive risk-taking.
