SEMO Food Bank sees community support grow during Hunger Action Month

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

SIKESTON, Mo., (KBSI) — Southeast Missouri Food Bank says community support is continuing to grow during Hunger Action Month as businesses, volunteers and residents find different ways to help families facing food insecurity.

Communications Manager Heather Collier said the food bank has seen strong participation throughout September, including food drives, volunteer events, fundraisers and business partnerships across the region.

“We’ve seen a lot of support from the community,” Collier said.

The month began with a donation of more than 12,000 pounds of rice. Since then, about 10 to 12 businesses in Cape Girardeau and Sikeston have taken part in the food bank’s Hunger Action Month challenge.

Businesses are hosting food drives, organizing volunteer groups and encouraging employees to wear orange, the color used for hunger awareness.

Some individuals are also taking part in a $100 challenge by asking friends and family to help raise money for the food bank.

Several local businesses are donating portions of sales during September. Papa Murphy’s in Cape Girardeau is participating each Friday, while Rosati’s and Scooter’s Coffee plan to donate proceeds from select sales on Hunger Action Day on Sept. 29.

Magnolia Soap and Bath Company also created a special soap benefiting the food bank throughout the month.

Collier said the support comes as more than 69,000 people in southeast Missouri, including more than 20,000 children, face food insecurity.

She said Hunger Action Month is designed to show that helping does not always require donating money or volunteering.

“It can be as easy as hitting share on one of our Facebook posts,” Collier said. “Helping raise awareness is really important too.”

The food bank is also adjusting some of its outreach because of the continued heat.

Thursday’s mobile food pantry in Braggadocio in Pemiscot County was canceled because of high temperatures. Collier said weather has now affected that distribution twice.

Mobile food pantries are held with local sponsors and hosts and are largely operated by volunteers.

“Their safety is important,” Collier said. “They have volunteers out there working, and we do have other pantries that are open regular hours.”

The Braggadocio distribution had not been rescheduled as of Thursday.

Collier said other food pantries remain available during their normal hours, and food assistance continues throughout the region.

The food bank’s golf tournament is scheduled for Sept. 21, while Hunger Action Day is Sept. 29. The organization is encouraging people to wear orange that day to help raise awareness.

Collier said every dollar donated to the food bank helps provide food for four meals.

More information about donating, volunteering or receiving food assistance is available through SEMO Food Bank’s website.