SIKESTON, Mo. – Scouts across Southeast Missouri will soon hit the streets to help fight hunger during the annual Scouting for Food drive benefiting Southeast Missouri Food Bank and its network of partner pantries.
On Saturday, Nov. 15, Scouts will distribute collection bags to homes throughout the region. They’ll return Saturday, Nov. 22, to collect food donations from doorsteps. Residents are encouraged to set their filled bags outside by 10 a.m. so Scouts can pick them up that morning.
Donations should be non-perishable, unexpired, unopened, and undamaged. The most-needed items include canned proteins such as chicken, tuna, or beans; canned fruits and vegetables; canned soups and stews; peanut butter; and pasta or pasta sauce.
“Scouting for Food shows the strength of our community when we come together,” said Joey Keys, president and CEO of SEMO Food Bank. “This drive helps replenish pantry shelves across our region and ensures families have access to the food they need, especially as we head into the holiday season.”
Those who do not receive a collection bag can still participate by making a monetary donation at semofoodbank.org or by dropping off non-perishable food at a local pantry (find a list under the Get Help tab at semofoodbank.org).
Southeast Missouri Food Bank serves about 80,000 people each month through a network of partner agencies and direct service programs. Its service area, where 1 in 6 neighbors, 1 in 4 children and 1 in 8 seniors face hunger, includes the five most food-insecure counties in Missouri.
Every item collected through Scouting for Food helps provide meals for families across Southeast Missouri, supporting neighbors as they put food on the table this holiday season.
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 5,600 senior citizens and weekend backpacks of food during the school year to 1,100 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.