Our partner charities are the frontlines of hunger relief in the Ozarks. They consist of food pantries, senior centers, houses of worship, schools, meal sites, shelters and residential programs who serve our neighbors facing hunger directly. Run by generous and compassionate people, they’re the first faces folks see when they seek help – but they also operate on limited funds and are often led by volunteers, especially smaller organizations in rural towns. They have a lot to juggle to keep our neighbors fed, and most local charities can’t do it on their own.
Nutrition programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are essential for our hardworking neighbors right here in Missouri. In fiscal year 2024, more than 655,000 Missourians put food on the table using SNAP benefits each month. This is important to note, especially as Congress is continuing work on the Farm Bill this year.
Nearly half of Missouri grade school students are enrolled in free and reduced-price lunches so they can get consistent and nutritious meals at school – that’s more than 400,000 students. But when school is out for the summer, kids lose access to those meals and families have to fill the gap.
Being a teenager is complicated. They’re figuring out who they are, how they fit in and what it means to be responsible. It’s a lot of pressure for someone who’s never been a teenager before, but imagine trying to figure it out without a safe place or enough food to feel your best.
