Clear99 Today's Best Country

Find out how you can help The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri.

The Food Bank serves more than 95,000 people each month who live at or below the poverty level – predominantly the working poor, their children, and the elderly.  With that massive amount of hungry people in their service area, The Food Bank relies greatly on the community for support.

Every dollar you contribute provides 20 pounds of food – or about 15 meals. You can help today! Click here to donate online now or call 800-764-3663 or 573-474-1020.  Donations can also be made to one of The Food Bank’s specific child-focused programs.

Buddy Pack Program

It started with one little girl who didn’t want to go home because there was no food. Executive Director of The Food Bank, Peggy Kirkpatrick tells the story…

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Food Bank sets up food closets in schools that have many low-income children. Before a child goes home for the weekend or for a long holiday period, back packs are filled with kid-friendly, nutritious food. The child takes the food home, uses it to supplement their diet, then brings the empty back pack back to school. The cycle then repeats itself.

The program started with 3 schools. There are now 60 schools in 14 counties participating with more waiting. Snacks are provided to 27,000 children each month with Buddy Packs going home with 3,800 children a week.

How can you help? By donating back packs, money or by holding a Buddy Pack food drive (for food specifically to be put into the back packs). Also, check out Scotty & Carissa’s Buddy Pack video for more information about the kinds of foods The Food Bank needs for the Buddy Pack program.

Food 4 Kids program

The Food Bank provides the food and looks for “partners” to cook the food and provide a place where the children can come and have lunch. Currently, they have 19 sites which operate in 4 different counties, but are always looking for more churches and civic organizations who are able to provide the “meals and love” for these children.

How can you help? By hosting a lunch for the children, or by making a food and/or monetary donation.

For more information about The Food Bank and it’s programs, visit sharefoodbringhope.org or call 800-764-3663 or 573-474-1020.