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Did you know that for every meal Ozarks Food Harvest provides, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides nine? That’s the enormous impact federal nutrition programs have on our southwest Missouri community. It’s important for you to know this because Congress is revisiting the Farm Bill this fall, the legislation that funds nutrition programs like SNAP, and their decision will help determine if families can continue to put food on the table.

The Farm Bill is a comprehensive piece of legislation reviewed every five years that governs a range of farming and food programs in the United States. The bill is crucial to our neighbors, many of whom are working hard but remain near the poverty line during record inflation for food, housing and daycare. Nearly 80 percent of Farm Bill funding goes to nutrition programs such as The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and SNAP — two of the most effective programs to help end hunger in southwest Missouri.

TEFAP helps food banks and their network of faith-based and community charities bridge the food gap for working families needing immediate nutrition assistance. Last year alone, Ozarks Food Harvest distributed more than 6 million meals from TEFAP food across a third of the state of Missouri to help families get back on their feet. All of this food is purchased from American farmers and manufacturers, which means this program supports the food producers who form the backbone of our economy.

SNAP is an essential tool for Ozarks Food Harvest’s mission because it helps working families afford nutritious food while providing economic stimulus to the community. In 2024, SNAP provided food assistance to more than 324,000 families each month in Missouri. That’s thousands of our neighbors who could afford to drive to work, keep the lights on and buy prescriptions without worrying about their next meal. On top of that, $1.5 billion was injected into our state’s economy through families using their SNAP benefits at local retailers. Those benefits helped keep our local economy strong and provided jobs to farmers, truck drivers, grocery stores and food industry workers across the state.

It’s important to remember that people who face hunger are not just statistics; they’re our neighbors, friends and family members. Everyone needs healthy food to live and thrive, regardless of their circumstances. Wanda, a working mom who receives TEFAP food from Ozarks Food Harvest’s network, shared how much the program has helped her family.

“The TEFAP Program is a great program. The frozen meats, fresh fruits and veggies and the juice. I know my children will be eating a healthy meal. I am a single mom and have struggled to make sure to keep food on the table. If it hadn’t been for this program there might have been a time or two we would have done without.”

I ask for your help to let Missouri legislators know that our community supports programs like SNAP and TEFAP. These programs ensure that working families can put food on the table and that Missouri farmers and businesses continue to thrive.

Please take just a few minutes today to contact your Congressional representatives through their websites and ask them to make hunger relief a priority in the Farm Bill.

Sen. Josh Hawley, hawley.senate.gov;

Sen. Eric Schmitt, schmitt.senate.gov;

Rep. Eric Burlison, burlison.house.gov.