Southeast Missouri Food Bank launches summer meals campaign for children

FOX23 News at 9 p.m

SIKESTON, Mo., (KBSI) — Southeast Missouri Food Bank is launching its Summer Meals for Kids campaign with a goal of providing 200,000 meals to children across Southeast Missouri during the summer months.

The food bank said more than 18,000 children in the region currently face food insecurity, and many lose access to regular school meals once classes end for the summer.

Southeast Missouri Food Bank President and CEO Joey Keys said the campaign is designed to help families facing increased food costs while children are out of school.

To support the campaign, Harps Food Stores locations across Southeast Missouri will offer pre-assembled “Blessing Bags” containing kid-friendly food items that will be donated to the food bank.

The organization also is encouraging businesses and community groups to host food and fundraising drives to support the effort.

According to the food bank, every $1 donated helps provide four meals for children in Southeast Missouri.

Southeast Missouri Food Bank serves a 16-county region through food pantries, shelters, mobile food distributions and other hunger-relief programs.