KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Harvesters Community Food Network is one of six Missouri food banks that will receive federal CARES Act funding, Gov. Parson announced on Wednesday.
The Kansas City-based food bank will receive $990,413 out of the $5 million being distributed.
In a statement provided to 41 Action News, Harvesters said it is grateful to receive the funding.
“The need for food assistance remains high, and we are approaching a time when several key federal food programs are coming to an end," the statement said. "This means Harvesters will need to purchase even more food to meet the need in our community. These funds will help offset our costs associated with the acquisition and distribution of food. To date, since the pandemic began, Harvesters has distributed 43 million pounds of food, almost 10 million more pounds than the same period last year."
Other food banks include:
- Ozarks Food Harvest, receiving $925,073.
- Second Harvest Community Food Bank, receiving $359,288.
- Southeast Missouri Food Bank, receiving $504,818.
- St. Louis Area Foodbank, receiving $1.5 million.
- The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri, receiving $708, 263.
Parson said in a news release that protecting the “health and well-being” of Missourians is a key aspect of the state’s Show Me Strong Recovery Plan.
“This additional funding for food banks will help ensure continued access to good nutrition for Missouri’s vulnerable citizens during these challenging times,” Parson said.
Feeding Missouri will receive $50,000 to be used for training, technical assistance and reporting. Scott Baker, Feeding Missouri’s executive director, said the coronavirus pandemic’s effect on the state’s food banks has been “profound.”
“Food is more expensive and harder to acquire, more people need it, and fewer people are available to help distribute it,” Baker said. “These additional funds will help us keep up with higher demand and ensure food is available for struggling Missouri families.”
