Media Release
For Immediate Release
January 27, 2014
Missouri food bank distribution reaches record high
High demand persists in 2013
Columbia, MO – The food banks of the Missouri Food Bank Association (MFBA) distributed over 100 million pounds of food in 2013, the most in the state’s history. Total pounds distributed reached 117,007,189, an increase of nearly 23% over 2012. According to Feeding America, that poundage equates to 97,505,980 meals for Missourians in need.
Persistent demand is driving the high distribution. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Missouri ranks 2nd nationally in “Very Low Food Security” and has experienced the highest rate of growth in that category over the past 10 years. Very low food security is defined as “reports of multiple indications of disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake.”
“The lingering effects of the recession are tangible and do not seem to be letting up,” said Scott Baker, state director of the MFBA. “While there seems to be positive economic news at a macro level, we have yet to see that reflected at Missouri’s food pantries and kitchens.”
The increased demand due to a slow economic recovery coupled with cuts to federal nutrition programs has caused more people to turn to charitable organizations for support. It is estimated that cuts made to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in November equated to over 3.5 million fewer meals for Missouri recipients.
“Hunger remains a reality for far too many Missourians,” Baker said. “This will likely remain the case until we collectively recognize the problem and make its eradication a top priority.”
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About the Missouri Food Bank Association
The MFBA is an association of the six Feeding America food banks in Missouri, serving every county in the state. Missouri’s food banks distribute food to the hungry through a network of more than 1,500 statewide pantries, shelters and kitchens.
