Partnership will invest in program to educate hungry Missourians
Jefferson City, Mo. – The Wal-Mart Foundation today announced a major gift to the Missouri Food Bank Association (MFBA) that will help fund an educational program for Missouri’s food insecure population. A $50,000 grant will help fund the “Missouri Promoting Food Security Plan,” which helps educate those who need emergency food assistance of available options.
Hunger continues to be a growing problem in Missouri. According to Feeding America, the largest domestic feeding organization in the United States, there are 1,026,000 people dealing with food insecurity in Missouri. Of those, over 300,000 are children. The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as “a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food.”
“The first step in addressing Missouri’s hunger problem is to increase awareness, both among those who can help, but also among those who need help,” said Scott Baker, state director for the MFBA. “The struggling economy is causing many people to deal with hunger for the first time and they don’t know where to turn. The ‘Promoting Food Security Plan’ is a way to help those in need understand that there is hope. We want them to know that help is available and show them where they can access much-needed food.”
The grant comes through the Wal-Mart Foundation’s State Giving Program. It is part of the Wal-Mart Corporation’s overall commitment of $2 billion in cash and in-kind donations to fight hunger over five years. This $50,000 grant is the equivalent of over 167,000 meals for hungry Missourians.
“If we are going to successfully solve hunger in Missouri, it will take an ‘all hands on deck’ approach,” said Baker. “That includes corporations, government, nonprofit organizations, volunteers, and community groups. We are very grateful to Wal-Mart for making this important investment in Missouri. We look forward to our continued partnership and effectively reaching out to those in need across our state.”
