Food insecurity

Food insecurity is on the increase in Missouri, according to the University of Missouri's new 2025 Missouri Hunger Atlas. Released every two to three years, the report maps where need is rising and helps guide efforts to get food to those who need it most.

During a 'Media Roundtable, KRCU Public Radio got to tour the Southeast Missouri Food Bank, which serves 16 Missouri Counties, several of which are in the top twenty most food insecure counties in the state of Missouri. We learned about how Southeast Missouri Food Bank is working to bridge the gap of food insecurity with several extraordinary programs, but relies heavily on the community's support.

Missouri advocates for families say the federal budget "megabill" could make it harder for them to put food on the table. The changes shift more of the administrative costs for SNAP, the federal program formerly known as food stamps, onto the state, and make it harder for some people to qualify for benefits.

The Illinois Department of Education, in partnership with Chapin Hall, released a new interactive trauma tool to help track adversity factors to which children may be exposed in districts across the state that may negatively impact their ability to be successful at school. Experts say they hope the Illinois Children’s Adversity Index encourages collaboration to more effectively allocate resources to districts that need it most.

School cafeterias may be closed for the summer, but help is still on the table for Missouri families. Through LINC’s Caring Communities initiative, free meals are being served to kids younger than 18 at schools, churches, parks, and other familiar neighborhood sites.

In this episode of 'Going Public,' we speak with Heather Collier, the Southeast Missouri Food Bank Donor Relations and Communication Manager, about the upcoming 'Stamp Out Hunger' Food Drive and its impact on the local area.

In this episode of 'Going Public,' we speak with Heather Collier, the Southeast Missouri Food Bank Donor Relations and Communication Manager, about the upcoming 'Stamp Out Hunger' Food Drive and its impact on the local area.

As national debates heat up over SNAP and school meal cuts, Missouri leaders are stepping in. Born out of the Ferguson movement, A Red Circle has been working since 2017 to fight racial and economic gaps in North St. Louis County, using food, education, wellness, and the arts to uplift the community.

On this episode of 'Going Public', we speak with Heather Collier, Donor Relations and Communications Manager at the Southeast Missouri Food Bank. She discusses their efforts to support communities affected by recent severe storms and tornadoes in Southeast Missouri. The food bank serves 80,000 individuals monthly across 16 counties, working with 140 partner agencies. They have conducted seven food distributions since March 14, with more planned despite challenges posed by flooding.

On this episode of 'Going Public', we speak with Heather Collier, Donor Relations and Communications Manager at the Southeast Missouri Food Bank. She discusses their efforts to support communities affected by recent severe storms and tornadoes in Southeast Missouri. The food bank serves 80,000 individuals monthly across 16 counties, working with 140 partner agencies. They have conducted seven food distributions since March 14, with more planned despite challenges posed by flooding.