SIKESTON, Mo. – John Leible, Community Bank President at First Midwest Bank in Sikeston, has been named to the board of directors at Southeast Missouri Food Bank.
“John is going to be a strong asset to the food bank,” said Joey Keys, chief executive officer of Southeast Missouri Food Bank. “He brings not just business knowledge, but also a strong commitment to improving southeast Missouri, as proven by his record of service to his community.”
Leible is a member of the Sikeston City Council, Sikeston Parks Foundation Board (president) and Sikeston Jaycees. He said his work with the Sikeston Jaycees and other organizations made him aware of food insecurity issues in southeast Missouri.
“While serving with various groups and board in the Sikeston area, I have been made aware just how much of our population is affected by food insecurity and have grown more and more passionate about this issue,” Leible said. “Southeast Missouri Food Bank serves a critical role not only for the Sikeston community but our entire region. Food insecurity is an ongoing concern in our country and a strong food bank system is integral to the vitality of our region.”
Southeast Missouri Food Bank serves about 80,000 individuals each month in its 16-county service area. One in seven families and one in five children in southeast Missouri live in homes where they do not have the resources to acquire enough food.
Other members of the food bank board are chairman Roger Guilliams, vice chairman Mark Avery, secretary/treasurer Danielle Poyner, Buddy Barger, Laura Coalter Parker, Chris Conroy, Brian Crowe, Julianna Montgomery Ford, Marty Platz, Chris White, Keys and Frank Jones, member emeritus.
About Southeast Missouri Food Bank
The mission of Southeast Missouri Food Bank is to end hunger and leverage the power of food to build healthy communities. The food bank provides food to 140 charitable and disaster relief programs in Southeast Missouri. These member agencies include food pantries, soup kitchens, domestic violence and homeless shelters. Southeast Missouri Food Bank also holds regular mobile food distributions and provides monthly boxes of food to 5,505 senior citizens and weekend backpacks of food during the school year to 1,200 students in 30 school districts. The food bank’s 16-county coverage area includes Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Dunklin, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Perry, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Ste. Genevieve, Stoddard and Wayne counties. Those interested in helping can do so by making a tax-deductible contribution, donating food, or scheduling a time to volunteer. Visit semofoodbank.org for more information.