By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Second 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.