CLAYCOMO – The Ford Motor Co. Fund and the Clay County Economic Development Council combined to raise more than $50,000 to help fight hunger among Northland schoolchildren, including in Excelsior Springs. The EDC’s “virtual happy hour” drew EDC members, supporters and friends May 1 via a Zoom videoconference and raised more than $20,000 for the 11-year-old Feed Northland Kids. The move boosted efforts to ensure children home from school due to COVID-19 still receive healthy meals. “These are Clay and Platte county kids that counted on the meals they received on the weekend through our pantries,” program Executive Director Chris Evans said. “Schools are out, but these kids are still hungry.” The Ford Motor Co. Fund initially committed $15,000 to help Feed Northland Kids when it became obvious school children would not return to school in March. Then, former EDC Chair Tony Reinhart, who serves as the government affairs representative for Ford, proposed adding another $15,000 as a…