Why is that?

Much of it can be traced to the way we talk about hunger, and more specifically, the way we talk about those who need help.  Just look at our rhetoric when it comes to government assistance programs like SNAP (the government’s name for food stamps).

When you hear about food stamps, you probably hear about the billions of dollars that are spent on the program or the millions of dollars lost through fraud and abuse.  What you rarely hear about is the perspective of people needing the help.  You don’t hear about the single senior citizen we heard from the other day who is expected to live on $42 of SNAP benefits per month.  You also don’t hear that the SNAP program has a fraud rate of about 1%.  While not perfect, many other government programs envy such a high efficiency rate.

Oftentimes, when we talk about people accessing programs, we are all guilty of having a set of stereotypes.  We assume things about their work ethic or family history.  We think they should be doing more to help themselves.  Some of us even believe that those folks are happy to be there!

We can assure you they are not.  We have yet to meet anyone who is proud to be at the food pantry.  Rarely is it a cause for celebration.  They’re often appreciative that the help is available, but they aren’t somehow secretly reveling in the fact that they need to rely on others to help provide their family with a basic necessity like food.

Never have we met someone who applies for food stamps and then goes out and brags about it to their friends and neighbors.  If you search long enough, you might find an exception, but those people don’t come close to representing the majority.

No, seeking emergency food assistance is not a cause for celebration.  It is often a step of last resort.  When you look at the faces of those who are standing in line for food assistance, you’re more likely to see stress or despair than elation or pride.  The best you can hope to see is appreciation.

That’s why it is so important to volunteer when you can.  Volunteer at a food bank or food pantry.  Besides the obvious benefit of helping get food to those who need it the most, you may also receive an unexpected education.  You’ll start to see the faces behind the stats and rhetoric.  You’ll see that we’re talking about real people.  You may also see that they’re not that different from you and me.

Once you see the faces of hunger, you can’t help but look at the issue differently.  And as more people begin to know and understand the people behind the numbers, the way we talk about hunger will change.  As that happens, the stigmas associated with seeking hunger relief will disappear and those who truly need help will be able to get it without shame.  Isn’t that a result we all want?

Jefferson City, Mo. – Missouri’s legislators joined forces with the Missouri Grocers Association (MGA) and the Missouri Food Bank Association (MFBA) to donate more than 1,900 pounds of food to hungry Missourians.  “Project: Grocers Can” was held at the State Capitol to help shine the light on the issue of hunger and the important role Missouri’s grocers and food banks play in addressing the problem.

“We are so grateful for this partnership with MGA,” said Scott Baker, MFBA state director.  “We appreciate the opportunity to increase the awareness of hunger in Missouri.  One in six of our neighbors deal with hunger every year.  It’s a problem that is spread out across every part of our state.  One of the most important things we can do is help our legislators understand that hunger is real in Missouri.”

The food donated by the MGA is the equivalent of 1,188 meals.  At the event, Missouri legislators bagged food collected by the MGA that was then distributed to a local pantry in Jefferson City.

The quality of food donated will enable people and families seeking emergency-food assistance to access a better variety of items, enabling a more balanced diet and improving their quality of life.

WINERY LAUNCHES ANNUAL CAMPAIGN

St. James Winery is launching an annual campaign against childhood hunger beginning in March and running through the end of May 2013. During this time, St. James Winery will donate a portion of proceeds from the sale of their wine to support the Missouri Food Bank Association and its local food bank child-feeding programs. The winery’s goal is to raise awareness of childhood hunger issues, as well as educate and encourage others to get involved.

“March is National Nutrition Month and the right time to begin a campaign raising awareness of childhood hunger issues,” said Peter Hofherr CEO of St. James Winery. “In Missouri alone, there are thousands of children living in poverty, and school breakfasts and lunches are the only source of reliable nutrition. Weekends and holidays are especially tough for these at-risk children.  Backpack programs provide kid-friendly, nutritious foods to supplement their meals when there is not enough to eat at home during weekends and holidays.”

“For the past five years, our winery family has been dedicated to the reduction of childhood hunger by raising money for the Buddy Pack program here in St. James, Missouri,” Hofherr continued. This new, larger program simply extends something we’ve already been doing and offers our customers an opportunity to improve the quality of life for children in a very concrete way.” 

St. James Winery is working in tandem with the Missouri Food Bank Association, which is a coalition of the six Missouri food banks working to provide hunger relief to every county in the state. Collectively, the Missouri Food Bank Association distributes more than 90 million pounds of food each year through a network of more than 2000 community programs, including the child-feeding programs for kids.

Customers should look for St. James Winery point-of-sale materials with colorful handprint graphics or visit the St. James Winery Web Site (www.stjameswinery.com) to learn more about how to help and how to donate.

St. James Winery is the largest and most awarded winery in Missouri.  Founded by the Hofherr family in 1970, St. James Winery celebrates more than 40 years as a family owned and operated winery.  St. James Winery’s award-winning wines are sold in stores in 19 states.

Contact:

St. James Winery, Inc.

540 State Route B

St. James, Missouri, USA 65559

Telephone: 800-280-9463

http://www.stjameswinery.com

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO- October 18, 2012- The Southeast Missouri Food Bank has received a donation from Walmart Foundation’s Associate Choice Program to acquire food to support programs and services to hungry Southeast Missourians.

With the commitment of involving associates, the Walmart Foundation created the Associate Choice Program. This is an interactive campaign allowing Walmart and Sam’s Club associates to vote on the causes that they identify as important to the company and their community. Southeast Missouri Food Bank was nominated and chosen as one of three organizations in Missouri that associates had the ability to vote for during an online poll from June 30th and August 6th. Southeast Missouri Food Bank placed second place in the voting, which resulted in a $20,000 donation equaling 140,000 meals to hungry Southeast Missourians.

“Southeast Missouri Food Bank is honored to have been nominated for the Associate Choice Program and receive $20,000 to support hunger relief programs,” said Karen Green, Executive Director of Southeast Missouri Food Bank. “The Food Bank is extremely grateful for our relationship with Walmart. Their financial and food donations coupled with their volunteer involvement in our programs have played a major role in improving our ability to help the food insecure in the region.”

Southeast Missouri Food Bank promotes food recovery, acquires & distributes food and household products, and provides community leadership and education on issues of hunger and poverty in an effort to alleviate hunger in the region. Over 170 nonprofit hunger relief agencies in sixteen counties of Southeast Missouri benefit from the Southeast Missouri Food Bank. These counties include Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Dunklin, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Perry, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Ste. Genevieve, Stoddard and Wayne. Member agencies include food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters for the abused and homeless, senior citizen programs, low-income children’s programs and non-profit rehabilitation facilities.

United Producers Inc. seeks to help feed those in need 

Columbia, Mo. – The Missouri Food Bank Association (MFBA) is joining forces with United Producers Inc. (UPI), to launch a month-long celebration of National Co-Op Month.  “Cooperating to Feed Our Community” will help raise funds to support the MFBA and its member food banks spread throughout Missouri.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Missouri has the nation’s fifth highest rate of very low food security.  Nearly one in six Missourians struggle with hunger.  Last year, the MFBA supplied over 70 million meals to those in need.

“Hunger is a reality for many Missourians,” said Scott Baker, MFBA’s state director.  “That’s why it’s so important to be joined in this fight with partners like UPI.  Missouri is in the heart of the world’s ‘bread basket.’  So many of the solutions we seek are right here in our own back yard.  We are very grateful for what UPI is doing to connect producers with those in need.”

UPI operates four livestock marketing facilities in Missouri and has locations throughout the Midwest.  2012 is the International Year of the Cooperative.

To demonstrate the power of the cooperative, United Producers is asking its members and employees to help make a difference by donating to the MFBA.  Members and employees can donate as little or as much as they wish—per head of livestock marketed through UPI or in a lump sum – and all donations will be tax deductible. Forms can be completed upon check-in at any United Producers market, or obtained from any UPI representative.

“As a cooperative organization, we know how important it is to help those in our communities,” said Dennis Bolling, President and CEO of UPI. “Cooperating to Feed Our Community is a great opportunity for our farmer members and employees to give back to our community through making donations to our local food banks. Food prices continue to rise and this is one tangible way our farmer members and employees are working together to help ease that burden for those in Missouri who need it most.”

That’s why Hunger Action Month was created.  September is Hunger Action Month in America.  It’s designed to draw attention to the issue of hunger and ways we can all help. Governor Jay Nixon has also declared September Hunger Action Month in Missouri, so now is as good a time as any to talk about what you can do to combat hunger.

One thing you can do is speak out against hunger.  This is an important step because most people struggling with hunger do not have a lot of influence with decision-makers.  Although their numbers are many, their stories typically remain unheard.  Hunger is not a loud problem.  It’s usually something Americans are self-conscious about and try to hide.  By simply lending your voice, you can make a tangible contribution in the fight to end hunger.  Help our leaders understand that hunger is real and ending it must be a top priority.  The timing is perfect as lawmakers in Washington are currently debating the future of federal nutrition programs!

There are always the more obvious steps of giving money and food, if you are able.  Almost 1 million Missourians rely upon emergency food assistance every year.  It’s simple – the only way we’ll collect enough food is if people generously donate it or give money to purchase it.

Finally, a good step we can all take is being more aware.  As noted earlier, hunger isn’t something most families will tout.  Your neighbors won’t make it obvious, and it usually won’t come up in conversation.  But there are signs.  Has their employment status changed recently?  Have they been unemployed or underemployed for a long period of time?  Have they mentioned struggles to keep up with other basics like utilities, house payments, or medicine?

If so, there’s a good chance that family is also struggling with putting enough food on the table.  If all of us make it a point to be more aware, we’ll immediately become part of the solution.  That will ensure that Hunger Action Month is a success.

Keep checking in here or check us out on Facebook and Twitter (@FeedingMO) for more information throughout September.  Thank you for making a commitment to end hunger in Missouri!

(SEDALIA, Mo.) –Missouri State Fair Director Mark Wolfe announced today that this year’s food drive netted more than 5 3/4 tons of canned food to help alleviate hunger in Missouri, topping last year’s total by more than 2 1/2 tons.

“Contributing to the increase is the Ford Super Duty F-250 Canstruction® exhibit built with nearly 7,000 cans,” said Wolfe.  “This impressive exhibit will be on display through Aug. 19 in the Agriculture Building, with the cans then going to the Missouri Food Bank Association (MFBA).”

The food collection effort was initiated in June at Ford dealerships across Missouri.  Ford dealers delivered their summer canned good collection to the fairgrounds Tuesday, while Missouri Farmers Care collected food coming in Centennial Gate.  Ford dealership donations, gate collections and the Canstruction® exhibit, made the final tally of food collected significant.

MFBA Director Scott Baker said that the statewide food banks and pantries will help those in need through the generosity of Missourians.  “Thanks to the collection efforts we can provide almost 11,000 meals with the Missouri State Fair’s contribution,” Baker said.

Supporting the food drive were Midwest Ford Dealers, the St. Louis Ford Dealers, Missouri Farmers Care, Bings Grocery Stores of Sedalia, Canstruction® Mid-Missouri of Columbia-Jefferson City, project engineer Patrick Earney of Trabue, Hansen & Hinshaw, Inc. of Columbia, and fairgoers.

The 2012 Missouri State Fair is currently underway in Sedalia and will run through Sunday, Aug. 19. For more information, visit www.mostatefair.com, or call 1-800-422-FAIR (3247).  The Fair is also on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube.