Feeding Futures: From club kid to community supporter

JOPLIN, Mo,-The Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Missouri has kicked off its latest initiative, "Feeding Futures," in a flavorful partnership with Trackside Burgers & BBQ. This collaboration marks the first of its kind for the organization, with the local eatery committing 15% of its proceeds to the club.

Micheal Clark, the executive chef and owner of Trackside Burgers & BBQ, shared the rapid pace at which this partnership came to life. "We had three or four weeks to get it together. We slammed Facebook. She made an event post and we were like, 'We're doing this thing,'" Clark explained. His connection to the Boys and Girls Club runs deep, having been a club kid himself. "It's very near and dear to our heart and my family," he added, noting that his two sisters, who are also involved in the business, fondly remember their time at the club.

The primary goal of Feeding Futures is to engage more local restaurants in supporting the Boys and Girls Club. "So the goal is to get other local restaurants to jump on board, right. And to do these Feeding the Future in partnership with the Boys Girls Club," Clark said, emphasizing the community-oriented vision of the campaign.

Jamie Hund, the Resource Development Coordinator for the Boys & Girls Club of Southwest Missouri, highlighted the significance of the funds raised through this campaign. "It costs about $10,000 a day to run our summer program. And we only charge kids about $5 a day," Hund stated. The 10-week summer program, which runs from 7 AM to 6 PM, offers a wide range of activities, including arts and crafts, physical education, and provides three meals a day to participants.

The Feeding Futures event at Trackside Burgers and BBQ concluded at 8 PM.

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