Around the State: USDA awards $5 million to Baylor Collaborative

The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded nearly $5 million to the Baylor University Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty to continue its Meals-to-You demonstration project this summer in Texas, New Mexico, Alaska and Utah. In addition to USDA, Meals-to-You partners with the PepsiCo Foundation and McLane Global to provide a stable and reliable food source through home delivery to children in rural areas without easy access to grocery stores or traditional summer meal sites. Without access to school meals, households with children have higher rates of food insecurity during the summer, and distance from Summer Food Service program sites creates a significant barrier for children in rural areas. Meals-to-You helps alleviate these challenges by shipping nutritious, shelf-stable food directly to the homes of rural families with children. “In the wealthiest country in the world, it is shameful that millions of children struggle with hunger every day,” said Jeremy Everett, executive director of the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty. “In the summer months, rural communities face even more challenges accessing a summer meal site. We’ve seen during the pandemic that innovative programs like Meals-to-You work. We’re proud to have USDA as a partner from Day One, and we are grateful for the PepsiCo Foundation and McLane Global’s continued support in the Meals-to-You program to feed kids across the country.”

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Global Outreach program sent medical teams to Guatemala and Costa Rica to work with One More Child, an organization that assists vulnerable children and their families. Each team reached more than 150 individuals through physical exams, first-aid and dental education. Four students and two sponsors traveled to Alaska to host a Bible camp for children through a partnership with Graceworks. Another team has begun a two-week mission to Washington to serve with Epic Life Church in Seattle. Students are distributing coffee at bus stops, volunteering at a food bank and participating in various other aspects of community development. Tiffany Horton directs UMHB Global Outreach.

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor granted degrees to more than 400 students at spring graduation, including 24 students who were awarded the Provost Medal for graduating with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Dannah Fritschlereceived the Loyalty Cup, awarded to a student who is considered representative of the university’s ideals, traditions and spirit. Kaden Cordell received the President’s Award for meritorious service.