Partnership Will Invest in Program to Educate Hungry Missourians
Columbia, MO, October 14, 2014– The Wal-Mart Foundation announced a major gift to Feeding Missouri (formerly Missouri Food Bank Association) that will help fund an educational program for Missouri’s food insecure population. A $53,550 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 1,031,030 people dealing with food insecurity in Missouri. Of those, over 308,000 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.”
“Economic recovery continues to elude the most vulnerable among us,” said Scott Baker, Feeding Missouri state director. “Thousands of Missouri families continue to struggle with hunger and many are facing it for the first time. The Promoting Food Security program is an educational tool to help them understand their options.”
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 $53,550 grant is the equivalent of over 535,500 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.”