Nourishing Our Neighbors This August

Nourishing Our Neighbors this August!
Meredith Knopp

I can always tell when it is August, because retailers begin competing as to how early their line of “pumpkin spice” items should hit the shelves. I think August is way too early, and not just because it is way too warm. During August, there are other things to focus on, and this August is no exception.

The St. Louis Area Foodbank continues to support our community and families impacted by the May 16 tornado. We have created additional outlets for families to receive support with seven of our key partner agencies located in the tornado-impacted zone. We supported Public Points of Distribution (PODS), the Disaster Assistance Center, and other large-scale distributions, like those with our partners at the Urban League. Disaster response has kept us busy, and we still have a long road to recovery. We are proud to share that we have supported families and partners impacted by the tornado by distributing 583,995 pounds of food, water and critical supplies since May 19 specifically for disaster relief. We are part of the long-term recovery coalition and will be here supporting our beloved community every step of the way.

Did you also know that National Non-Profit Day is August 17?

This is a great day to recognize the vital work of nonprofit organizations and the impact they have on our community. It’s a day to acknowledge the contributions of nonprofit staff and volunteers and to encourage support through donations, volunteering, or other forms of assistance. This year, we would love for you to look at our social media channels as we continue our “50 Ways in 50 Days” campaign for inspiration! I challenge you to find one of our ideas that resonates with you, and then, activate! Whether you make a $50 donation in honor of our 50th anniversary, host a PB & J drive, or write “hope notes” at home and drop them off at the Foodbank for us to include in food boxes, you are making an impact. Every action is an opportunity to be a part of our mission, and we thank you in advance for your support.

If all of this wasn’t enough, the St. Louis Area Foodbank continues to commemorate our 50th Anniversary in big ways. We have hosted donation drives, met with elected officials about innovative ways to support our community, launched engaging social media campaigns, and welcomed eight new board members to our Board of Directors last month. This team and our incredible volunteers and partners are truly operating on all cylinders. However, there is always room for more, as my grandma used to say.

To that end, and in honor of our 50th anniversary, we are going to do something we have NEVER done before. At the end of August, the St. Louis Area Foodbank will host two large-scale food distributions, the likes of which we have never attempted. We will hold the events on August 28 and August 29, and we plan to serve and support up to 500 families at each location with enough food for a month! Yes, you read that correctly – food for a MONTH! We will provide fresh produce, protein, dairy products, shelf-stable items, household supplies, and more! The St. Louis Area Foodbank has been honored to host some significant events in the past to benefit our community, our veterans, and those in need during the COVID pandemic, but we have never taken on a food distribution of this scale.

Nourishing Our Neighbors Food Distributions:

Each of these free food distributions is open to anyone in need of food assistance. No income verification, pre-registration, or identification is required. A one-month supply of food will be available for 500 families, on a first-come, first-served basis. A mix of fresh produce, dairy, protein, pantry staples, hygiene, and cleaning supplies will be provided. Volunteers will place items in your trunk or backseat; you will not need to exit your vehicle.

Thursday, August 28 at 9 am
Worldwide Technology Raceway
700 Raceway Blvd, Madison, IL 62060

Friday, August 29 at 9 am
All Starr Parking Lot (near Busch Stadium)
611 S 8th St, St. Louis, MO 63102.

We are grateful and humbled to be a trusted leader in the community, and look forward to serving, supporting, and strengthening our region for the next 50 years!