Kenton County 4-H Council fundraises to support not only the Kenton County 4-H Camping program, but other 4-H programs and 4-Hers throughout the county. The 4-H Council chose to fundraise by providing a farm to table dinner and selling holiday boxes. Both fundraisers included either a meal or other food products for purchase. While our council and other volunteers were excited about these fundraisers and the opportunity to help, they were also concerned about food safety. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the US sees 48 million illnesses, 128,000 hospitalizations, and 3,000 deaths attributed to foodborne diseases each year. Our council and volunteers knew that they needed to address food safety to ensure the fundraiser’s success and prevent any potential health issues. 

The council and volunteers decided to provide training for all those involved. Our council president was trained as a Servesafe Food Manager, and our 4-H Assistant became a Home Based Processor. Both certifications provided our council president and 4-H Assistant with the knowledge to train our volunteers in proper handwashing and hygiene, temperature control for food, cross-contamination prevention, allergen awareness, and proper packaging and transport.

Our volunteers implemented the food safety guidelines during the entire process, from ingredient purchasing to cooking, packaging, and distribution. 

Our fundraising efforts have been a massive success. Our 4-H Council and volunteers served or distributed over 280 meals and food products. This was a 22% increase from previous years. The commitment of our volunteers to food safety helped us avoid any issues with foodborne illnesses, and customers felt confident in purchasing the meals and holiday boxes. Our stakeholders, local businesses, and community leaders were impressed with the extra steps our volunteers took to prioritize safety. The fundraisers not only raised over $7300 for Kenton County 4-H but also helped promote the importance of food safety in all home-prepared food sales.