Southeast Missouri Food Bank distributed over 10M pounds of food in 2017

SIKESTON – Southeast Missouri Food Bank and our 180 partner-agency network remain unyielding in our fight against hunger. Last year more than 60,000 individuals and families were served every month. Over 96 percent of their expenses go directly to those in need through their program services.

Just a few of the highlights of 2017 include:

• A record 10,474,861 pounds of food was distributed to throughout the 16 county service area. The food was secured by USDA, Feeding America, grants, food drives, produce, and retail and manufacturing donations. Countless miles in the 9460 square mile service area were crossed daily.

• The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) for seniors saw significant growth increasing more than 65 percent from 2,700 monthly boxes in 2016 to more than 4,800 low income seniors. Missouri has the sixth highest rate for senior food insecurity in the U.S.

• More than 1.5 million meals were delivered though our Truck to Table Mobile Food Pantry distribution program by our fleet of trucks. Serving an average 192 families at each distribution, 228 Truck to Table distributions were held in throughout the 16 county service area.

• In Southeast Missouri, 1 out of 4 children goes to bed hungry. This breaks out to 19,230 just in the area. The Backpacks for Friday (BFF) Program provides food during each weekend of the school year. BFF is in 27 school districts serving 476 children and their families weekly. A Better Childhood (ABC) School Mobile Pantry also helps combat hunger in some of the most impoverished counties. ABC School Pantry served more than 500 children and families each month in 2017.

• Our facility became the first Energy Star-certified food bank by the Environmental Protection Agency.

“We cannot do this work without you—our donors, volunteers, advocates, and friends—who join us to battle food insecurity in the region. Together, we can build a happier, healthier community for everyone,” said Karen Green, CEO of Southeast Missouri Food Bank.

These are just a few ways The Food Bank’s hunger relief efforts are impacting thousands of lives in immeasurable ways.

Our approach to serving all neighbors in need must be far-reaching. With nearly 64,000 people facing hunger in Southeast Missouri, it’s just a fraction of what our impact will be in years to come.