Food insecurity continues after Christmas

FOOD Amine 30 Dec , 2022 0

Southeast Missouri (KFVS) – 2022 may be drawing to a close, but the fight against hunger continues.

At the First Church of God in East Prairie, Missouri, Dawn Walters is the senior pastor. She is happy to help feed an anxious family.

“People are struggling with food. They spent Christmas and spent a lot of money. Now that the kids are at home they need extra help with food, so we are trying to help them.” ” explained Walters.

More than 13.5 million pounds of food have been delivered to communities, according to SEMO Food Bank’s Sarah Garner.

“Food insecurity in our area is of great concern. It includes five of the top 10 worst counties in all of Missouri,” Garner said.

Garner said Dunklin, Ripley, Wayne, Butler, and Pemiscot counties are the five mentioned.

“One in three children in Pemiscot County does not have enough food at home, so the sheer numbers are a big concern in our area,” Garner said.

The growing need to feed southeastern Missouri is attributed to Garner in her final quote.

“With inflation and everything else that happened in 2022, what we thought would be a once-in-a-lifetime event is becoming a reality again. We think it’s the norm,” Garnett said.

Click this link for more information on how to join the fight against hunger.

Southeast Missouri Food Bank | Southeast Missouri Food Bank (semofoodbank.org)