Donations to SEMO Food Bank can help ‘Eclipse Senior Hunger’

SIKESTON, Mo. (KBSI) – Leaders at the Southeast Missouri Food Bank ask everyone to help ‘Eclipse Senior Hunger’ by donating an amount ending in 8 to the food bank’s senior hunger programs.

In southeast Missouri, 1 in 8 senior citizens are food insecure, according to Heather Collier with the SEMO Food Bank.

To mark the total solar eclipse on April 8, Southeast Missouri Food Bank is asking everyone to help ‘Eclipse Senior Hunger’ by donating an amount ending in 8 to the food bank’s senior hunger programs.

“Senior hunger is a big issue for us at the food bank,” said Sarah Garner, SEMO Food Bank’s chief advancement officer. “When we were thinking about doing something around the eclipse, which everyone in the area is so excited about, we thought it was a great way to help our seniors. Basically, we’re asking the public to make a donation based around the number 8, so $18, $48, $108. Every $1 donated helps provide 4 meals, so it can really make a difference.”

The food bank increased the number of senior boxes it distributes monthly from 5,350 to 5,575 since 2022.

Seniors living on fixed incomes hit hard by inflation over the last couple of years.

“At some of our distributions, senior neighbors told us they’d never needed help before, but when prices rose, they were having to choose between paying for food or medicine or other basic necessities,” Garner said. “That’s a choice we don’t want anyone to face, but it’s especially hard for seniors who are on a fixed income.”

Southeast Missouri Food Bank serves 80,000 people each month across its 16-county service area.

Visit semofoodbank.org to learn more about the food bank or to donate to the “Eclipse Senior Hunger” campaign.