Grant to enable John J. Pershing VA Medical Center to grow food pantry

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. (KBSI) – A grant will allow the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center to grow its monthly food pantry in Poplar Bluff and start a new one in the Cape Girardeau community.

The grant is from Disabled American Veterans Charitable trust for $63,700 to be used by all of the VA clinics in the area.

“We’re so grateful for it,” said Ashley Aubuchon, the medical center’s health promotion/disease prevention program manager, of the grant. “Being able to provide even more is just one of the
many goals we’ve been able to meet with this program.”

The medical center’s Poplar Bluff food pantry began in 2019. Until recently, the pantry served up to 80 veterans monthly. The new grant will enable the pantry to feed 100 monthly.

Food is distributed beginning at 8 a.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the National Guard armory, located at 1605 Cravens Road in Poplar Bluff.

The grant is administered through VA’s partner, the SEMO Food Bank. It will also fund a new food pantry in Cape Girardeau, initially serving 50 veterans, with the hope to expand quickly.

“We want to make sure that we serve Veterans, and if we fulfill 50 this first time, then we’ll bump up to 100,” said Ryan Strack, voluntary services specialist at the Cape Girardeau VA Health Care Center.

The Cape Girardeau food pantry’s inaugural event will take place from 10-11 a.m. May 7. Distributions will be each first Tuesday of the month thereafter, at the Cape VFW Post 3838 located at 1049 Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau.

The Robert Silvey VA Outpatient Clinic, a community-based outpatient clinic of the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Farmington, Mo., also hosts a monthly food pantry through a partnership with the St. Louis Food Bank. That program provides food for up to 150 Veterans at 9 a.m. on the second Tuesday of every month at the American Legion Post 416 located at 1604 Columbia Street in Farmington.

Aubuchon says each distribution is done on a first-come, first-served basis. She recommends arriving early.

“It’s unfortunate, but sometimes we have to turn people away, and we don’t want to do that,” said Aubuchon.

Veterans are asked to bring the VA Health ID card, DD214, or other proof of service.

Aubuchon says the food distributions serve a critical role in providing healthy foods to veterans, many whom would not be able to afford or otherwise have access to those staples.

“I’m there every month talking to our Veterans, signing up Veterans, and I hear the need out there,” she said. “Food insecurity is, unfortunately, becoming more and more common. Having
healthy food is one way we can improve our overall health and well-being, aside from physical activity. A lot of times we have Veterans reporting they just can’t afford healthy food, so we wanted to
establish a service that is going to help them meet their health goals, and this was one way to do so.”

Other items in the food boxes vary, but can include frozen meats, eggs, peanut butter, beans, fruits, whole grains, pasta, dairy products, and more.

Aubuchon says occasionally there will be some sweets.

She says there is hope to expand the food pantries to other locations.

“We do want to establish a partnership with the Arkansas Area Food Bank and try to get one in Northeastern Arkansas, probably in Paragould,” Aubuchon said.