What started as a 4-H youth project for 10 year old Mackenzie “Kenzie” Hinson, from Mt.Olive, NC, soon evolved into Make A Difference Food Pantry that fights hunger in North Carolina. Pantries are set up like a mini grocery store and food is labeled with nutritional information so healthy choices can be made.

 The food pantry has since grown to include: The Senior Citizen Mobile Pantry, Backpack Buddy Program, Holidays & Afterschool Program, Summer Feeding Program, MAD (Make A Difference) Kloset and Disaster Feeding Operations. Governor Roy Cooper declared April 21-24 as “Make A Difference Youth Volunteer Week” and appointed Kenzie as North Carolina’s Spokeskid for Volunteerism.  Recently Kenzie and the Make A Difference Food Pantry were also featured on Mike Rowe’s TV program “Returning the Favor”.

 Kenzie’s leadership ability and enthusiasm has been the catalyst for the growth in seeing her mission of feeding the hungry become so successful. Kenzie says, “We are stopping hunger one meal, one family at a time by providing nutritious food to those in need with compassion and love – because it’s more than just food; it’s about how you make people feel”.

 Webpage:    www.madpantry.org