SIKESTON, Mo. – Southeast Missouri Food Bank will host a Hunger Action resource fair and mobile food pantry at its headquarters in Sikeston on Monday, Sept. 9, as part of its Hunger Action Month activities.
“We know many of the neighbors who turn to us for food assistance are in need of other resources,” said Camille Peters, chief impact officer of the food bank. “We want to bring all of these services together for a one-day event to make them more accessible. Our goal is to provide access to resources across a variety of areas, including employment, healthcare, children, housing, transportation, veterans and general services.”
The resource fair will be from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 9 in the food bank’s parking lot at 600 State Highway H in Sikeston.
Peters said the resource fair is open to anyone living in the food bank’s 16-county service area across southeast Missouri.
Resource providers offering services include Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Visiting Nurse Association, Department of Veterans Affairs, Scott County Transit System, Butler County Health Department, SADI, Cape Adult Education & Literacy, Voices for Children – SEMO, Lincoln University Extension, MU Extension, Workforce Development Board and SEMO-NASV. Food bank staff will also be on hand to assist with SNAP and Medicaid applications.
Peters said the mobile food pantry will be limited to individuals who attend the resource fair. Both the resource fair and mobile food pantry will be a walk-through system. Visitors should follow parking instructions on site.
“We’re excited to increase access to important resources for the neighbors we serve,” Peters said.
SEMO Food Bank serves 80,000 individuals each month through its network of partner agencies and direct service programs. It’s 16-county service area includes 7 of the 10 most food insecure counties in the state.
For more information about the Hunger Action Resource Fair, contact Camille Peters at 573-471-1818 or cpeters@semofoodbank.org.
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 5,575 senior citizens and weekend backpacks of food during the school year to 1,200 students in area 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.