SEMO Food Bank receives $10K from Red Nose Day USA

SIKESTON, Mo. (KBSI) – The Southeast Missouri Food Bank was awarded a $10,000 grant from Red Nose Day USA to help feed children in southeast Missouri.

The Red Nose Day funds will allow the food bank to hold 10 food pantries called “A Better Childhood (ABC) Mobile Food Pantries” this year in communities with higher rates of childhood hunger.

In Pemiscot County, one in three children are food insecure, with 29.5 percent childhood food insecurity, ranking it No. 1 in the state of Missouri.

SEMO Food Bank serves 16 counties. In that service area, 20.4 percent of children are food insecure. Statewide, 14.7 percent of children are food insecure.

Red Nose is sponsored by the non-profit organization Comic Relief. It began in the United States in 2015. Activities support an end to child poverty by raising money and awareness for child hunger initiatives in the United States.

Red Nose Day 2023 is May 25.

Specific dates, times and locations of the mobiles will be shared with families through school districts and other partners.