Y.E.A.H., while ‘yeah’ may be a common word, Y.E.A.H. has an uncommon value. YEAH stands for Youth Efforts Against Hunger, and has maintained a worthy vision since its inception in 2006.
It’s lofty goal – To assist the Clark County Food Bank in alleviating hunger by providing high quality food to Clark County individuals and families in need – is the basis of what YEAH is all about. And this is YEAH weekend at the Clark County Fair. This Saturday, starting at 11:00 at the Fairgrounds, all of the efforts of thousands of people will come to fruition at the 2014 Junior Livestock Auction. The overflowing pride and sense of success and accomplishment is evident on faces of the young and not so young throughout the stalls and into the stands. The kids and their families are doing a fantastic service in giving back to their community.
Founded by the Junior Livestock Auction (JLA) Board to provide quality meat raised by 4-H and FFA members to needy families in Clark County, each August at the Clark County Fair local 4-H and FFA youth sell more than 200 market animals to the highest bidder at the JLA. Many buyers donate their animals to YEAH or make cash donations to help YEAH buy other animals and pay for processing.
The Clark County Food Bank (CCFB) is the beneficiary of all food and funds raised through the YEAH Program. The CCFB has been the primary, countywide nonprofit food distribution organization since 1985. It provides food to 29 emergency food pantries and meal sites which, in turn, distribute food to hungry and food insecure individuals, families and children in Clark County. In Fiscal Year 2012, the CCFB distributed over 3.9 million pounds of food products, resulting in over 121,055 emergency food boxes for distribution by partner agencies to their clients. Over 10,000 food boxes are distributed per month to feed about 33,000 people. Annually, more than 90,000 individuals received some form of emergency food assistance from the CCFB, of which 39% are children under the age of 18. In 2012 the CCFB moved to a new, larger facility that allows it to accept and distribute more food, provide nutrition education, and more effectively fulfill its mission to “Alleviate Hunger and Its Root Causes.”
Join us in wishing them great success.
