Excelsior Springs, MO – The SkillsUSA chapter at Excelsior Springs Career Center recently made a generous donation of over 400 canned goods to the Good Samaritan Center as part of their state-wide community service initiative. This project, supported by a $250 matching grant from the Missouri Farmers Care Foundation’s Drive to Feed Kids program, not only fulfills the chapter’s community service requirements but it demonstrate’s the chapter’s commitment to their local community.
The project was spearheaded by SkillsUSA State Vice President of Community Service, Madelyn Throckmorton, with the guidance of Excelsior Springs Career Center instructor and SkillsUSA advisor Justin McBee. The initiative was part of a broader statewide effort to combat food insecurity, with SkillsUSA chapters across Missouri participating in similar projects.
“For our state Fall Leadership Conference, I was tasked with finding a sponsor for our community service project,” explained Throckmorton. “I reached out to Missouri Farmers Care, and they graciously opened their grant process to Career and Technical Education (CTE) student organizations. This allowed every SkillsUSA chapter in Missouri to apply for a $250 matching mini-grant.”
Throckmorton worked closely with McBee to secure the grant. “Originally, the grants were only available to 4-H, FFA, and collegiate organizations, but we asked them to include CTE organizations like SkillsUSA,” she said. “They agreed, and this opened up opportunities for chapters across the state.”
The SkillsUSA Excelsior Springs chapter set an ambitious goal to collect 250 canned goods to match the $250 grant. Through classroom promotions and community involvement, they exceeded their goal, donating over 400 canned goods to the Good Samaritan Center.
“Our students really went above and beyond,” McBee said. “They nearly doubled their goal by encouraging their fellow students in their sending schools.”
The initiative was part of a larger statewide project involving SkillsUSA chapters at the Fall Leadership Conference, where canned goods were used in activities before being redistributed to local communities. The Drive to Feed Kids program, presented by ADM and Brownfield Ag News, has supported similar projects for the past five years, raising resources to provide thousands of meals to families in need.
In addition to the impact on food security, the project offered students valuable leadership and organizational experience. “This was a collaborative effort that taught our students how to lead, solve problems, and make a real difference,” said Throckmorton.
SkillsUSA Excelsior Springs’ AM and PM officers, including students from multiple Career Center programs such as HVAC, automotive, carpentry, and health sciences, played a big role in the project’s success. Participating officers include:
AM Officers
- Silas O’Dell, Excelsior Springs (HVAC)
- Sophia Hannigan, Liberty North (3D and Animation)
- Adrien Crawley, Excelsior Springs (Automotive)
- Dylan Carter, Excelsior Springs (Automotive)
- Angeles Blanchard, Lawson (EMT)
- Michelle Qualman, Lawson (Health)
PM Officers
- Angelee Blanchard, Lawson (Fire)
- Milton Grider, Kearney (HVAC)
- Jaxon Hellyer, Excelsior Springs (HVAC)
- Xavior Gaskins, Orrick (Carpentry)
- Sydnie Speakman, Excelsior Springs (Carpentry)
- Cole Thrasher, Kearney (Automotive)
For more information on SkillsUSA and their community service efforts, visit SkillsUSA.org. To learn about the Drive to Feed Kids program and how you can help, visit www.mofarmerscare.com/drive.
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