SIKESTON – Southeast Missouri Food Bank has been awarded a grant to continue the Veterans Healthy Food Surplus Program for the amount of $46,500 through the Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust.
The food bank began providing boxes of healthy food to veterans in 2019 through a continuing partnership with the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. The program expanded in 2021, serving 75 veterans each month. Eighty-eight percent of the 58 veterans in the program who completed both a pre- and post-survey reported improved health with access to the healthier foods. The funds from DAV Charitable Trust will allow this program to continue.
“We know that access to healthier food is important to overall health,” said Joey Keys, chief executive officer of the food bank. “Our veterans have already sacrificed so much. We hope that providing this nutritious food will help improve their well-being.”
The boxes are distributed through the VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, with veterans receiving 35 to 40 pounds of food, including lean protein and fresh fruit and vegetables, each month.
“We are so excited to partner with SEMO Food Bank on the Veterans Healthy Food Surplus Program funded through the DAV Charitable Trust this year,” said Ashley Aubuchon, health promotion disease prevention program manager for the VA Medical Center. “We saw this past year the many health benefits veterans experienced from receiving more nutritious foods, like more fruits and vegetables, and we can’t wait to continue providing this service to those most deserving. Our mission to enhance veterans’ health and well-being by promoting nutritious food options that are not available or affordable is achieved through the partnership between the SEMO Food Bank, and we couldn’t be more grateful.”
For information on future food distributions, veterans may contact Aubuchon at 573-778-4386.