By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSecond Harvest Community Food Bank kicks off its 2020 fundraising
campaign next month as it attempts to feed the nearly 50,000 area residents who
too often go to bed hungry.Michelle Fagerstone with Second Harvest says the food bank distributes
food to food pantries, food kitchens, food programs, even after-school programs
trying to keep up with the need.“We are on track to distribute over seven million pounds of
food this year and that’s still below what it would take, according to Feeding
America, to cover all of the food insecurity within our region,” Fagerstone
tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline.Second Harvest serves 15 counties in northwest Missouri and
four counties in northeast Kansas. In addition to helping stock the shelves of
local pantries and provide food for those serving the poor, it helps distribute
federal food programs.It is estimated that approximately 47,000 people in this
region suffer from food insecurity.“Food insecurity means that on a regular basis you or a family
member or your neighbor or anybody you might know does not consistently receive
nutritious food,” according to Fagerstone.Fagerstone says food insecurity can even come and go. She gives
as an example a retired senior citizen who might have plenty of good food at
the beginning or the month, but might run out of nutritious meals as the month
wears on and the money runs out.The 2020 Annual Fund Drive Kickoff Luncheon for Second Harvest
Community Food Bank will be held March 5th at the Albrecht-Kemper
Museum of Art, beginning at 11:30am. Those wishing to attend are encouraged to
register by February 24th. The cost is $10. The meal is provided by
Chef Ralph Filipelli.Fagerstone says it doesn’t take a lot for Second Harvest to feed
a lot of people.“For each dollar donated to us, we can purchase enough food
for up to three meals,” Fagerstone says. “So, in essence, your donation has the
ability to be tripled.”Fagerstone says Triumph Foods and Tyson provide Second Harvest
with generous meat donations, helping it to make donations stretch even
farther.

2nd Harvest kicks off fund drive in ongoing effort to feed the hungry