Wood speaks about SEMO Food Bank at CWF meeting

SIKESTON — During Monday’s Christian Women’s Fellowship meeting held at the First Baptist Church, those in attendance learned about hunger in the United States.

Guest speaker Jennifer Wood, director of the Southeast Missouri Food Bank, shared statistics about hunger, particularly in Southeast Missouri during the meeting. Wood said food banks were founded in 1985 in an “all-out effort to combat hunger in our country.”

Currently there are 240 food banks nationwide and there are six food banks in Missouri. The SEMO Food Bank, located in Sikeston, serves 16 counties and is supported by 140 hunger relief members agencies.

In Southeast Missouri alone, one-in-five children are “food insecure,” meaning they are not sure where their next meal is coming from. In 2018, an average of 63,000 individuals were served each month in the local 16-county area.

Food is distributed to those in need through multiple programs including Truck to Table Mobile Pantries which serve the most remote locations. Each truck in the fleet serves an average of 200 families and access to food can be scheduled after 5 p.m. and on Saturdays.

Many citizens are familiar with or may volunteer to fill “Backpacks for Friday” to ensure families will not go hungry on weekends. Approximately 4,780 seniors are served each month through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and many retail stores including Walmart, Sam’s Club, Target, Food Giant, Aldi’s and Kroger donate food that is close-dated, slightly ripe or too plentiful. This often helps supply much needed fresh produce to the SEMO Food Bank.

Volunteers are always welcome to the SEMO Food Bank as are donations. A one dollar donation provides four meals. The SEMO Food Bank mailing address is PO Box 190, Sikeston, MO, 63801.

Those interested in helping can also participate in food drives sponsored by the Boy Scouts or the United States Postal Carriers.

To access services from the SEMO Food Bank, call (573) 471-1818 or visit the SEMO Food Bank location at 600 State Highway H to sign up.