SIKESTON, Mo. – Southeast Missouri Food Bank has received a $63,700 grant from the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust to support its Veterans Healthy Food Program, which provides monthly boxes of nutritious food to veterans.
The program serves veterans across Southeast Missouri through distribution sites supported by VA partners in Poplar Bluff and Cape Girardeau, where collaboration helps ensure consistent, accessible delivery of food assistance. Each month, participating veterans receive at least 30 pounds of food, including lean protein, fruits, and vegetables.
“This is a program with proven results,” said Joey Keys, chief executive officer of SEMO Food Bank. “When veterans have consistent access to healthy food, it directly supports their overall well-being. These men and women have already given so much in service to our country, and we are honored to help support their health and quality of life. We are deeply grateful to the DAV Charitable Service Trust for making this work possible.”
SEMO Food Bank launched its Veterans Healthy Food Program in 2019 in partnership with the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. The program added additional VA-supported distribution in Cape Girardeau in 2024, continuing to grow in reach and impact across the region.
Program outcomes have shown meaningful benefits. Among veterans who completed both pre- and post-participation surveys, 88 percent reported improved health outcomes with increased access to nutritious foods.
Food boxes are distributed through VA Medical Center partners, ensuring veterans receive reliable, dignified access to nutritious food each month. The program is part of the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention initiative at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center.
For more information about future distributions, veterans may contact Ashley Aubuchon at 573-778-4386.
Southeast Missouri Food Bank serves approximately 80,000 individuals each month across its 16-county service area, where many communities experience some of the highest rates of food insecurity in Missouri. For more information, visit 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 5,600 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.