Dec. 12, 2019

2019 Missouri Hunger Atlas Shows Food Security Remains a Critical Issue

The latest edition of the Missouri Hunger Atlas, published by the Interdisciplinary Center for Food Security, reports the number of Missourians facing food insecurity has dropped to pre-Great Recessions levels. It is estimated that 865,000 Missourians are food insecure, a decline from three years ago when the issue affected 1 million Missourians. Still, access to nutritious food remains critical in many Missouri counties. The Missouri Hunger Atlas 2019 reports nearly one in seven individuals lacked reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food, with the most vulnerable populations including children and the elderly. “Three years ago we…

Dec. 19, 2018

Webinars, One-on-One Assistance, and More for Food Pantries

With an eye toward helping food pantries build a stronger foundation and address the many challenges of people who use their services, the Interdisciplinary Center for Food Security Power Up Your Pantry program has grown to include webinars, one-on-one technical assistance, and more through a new grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health. Starting January 16, 2019, with help from New Chapter Coaching, LLC, the Center will host a five-part webinar series titled “Most Things You’d Like to Know About Fundraising” for food pantry staff and volunteers. Later,…

July 12, 2018

The Summer Hunger Gap in Missouri

School might be out for the summer, but that doesn’t mean childhood hunger takes a vacation. For most kids, summertime is associated with fun in the sun, family vacations, and outdoor activities. However, for the nearly 500,000 Missouri children approved to receive free or reduced priced lunches during the school year, finding a wholesome lunch may be a challenge. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is intended to bridge the hunger gap during the summer months. Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services, SFSP provides reimbursements to schools…

April 18, 2018

Rural Poverty and Well-Being

When it comes to poverty, people in rural counties continue to fare worse than their city neighbors. This somber news stems from the recent USDA Economic Research Service Rural Poverty & Well-being assessment. The research shows that the nonmetro poverty rate is roughly 3 percentage points higher than the metropolitan rate. Other features of the report examine poverty rates among different racial and ethnic groups. The report also looks at the geography of poverty, including persistently poor counties, defined as counties where 20 percent or more of the population was in poverty since 1980, based on decennial…

Nov. 9, 2017

Commentary: Hunger in the World’s Most-Productive Food System

A guest commentary by Interdisciplinary Center for Food Security colleagues Mary Hendrickson and Bill McKelvey was recently featured in the Kansas City Star. It appeared in conjunction with a November 9, 2017 American Public Square discussion titled Bad Choices. No Choices. Food Insecurity, held on the University of Missouri Kansas City campus. In the commentary, Hendrickson and McKelvey discuss paradoxes of the U.S. food system and offer a few strategies to make it more equitable.  …

Oct. 9, 2017

A New Direction in Food Banking

A recent article on NPR’s The Salt blog highlights the work of Foodlink, a regional food bank in Rochester, NY, and their efforts to both alleviate poverty and provide healthier foods. Given investments the food bank made in food processing, in July 2014 they began purchasing apples from local farmers and then selling them washed, sliced, and packaged to local schools. The initiative was a hit with students and has allowed them to add staff and use the extra revenue for their after-school and summer meal programs. Foodlink also provides fresh produce in the community through it’s…

Sep. 7, 2017

‘Food Policy is Health Policy’ Summit

How we produce and consume food has a bigger impact on American’s well-being than any other human activity. With that in mind, MU’s Center for Health Policy and Missouri Council for Activity and Nutrition are teaming up to host the 15th Annual Missouri Healthy Policy Summit: Setting the Table for Success. Set for October 26-27 in Columbia, MO, the summit will feature nationally acclaimed experts Margo Wootan, Ricardo Salvador, and Alison Kodjak. A host of additional…

May 26, 2017

Garden Smarter with The Garden Starter

A new Grow Well Missouri publication, The Garden Starter, covers the basics of gardening from seed to table. With tips on building, tending, and making the most of your garden, this booklet will help new gardeners feel more comfortable as they get started and give returning gardeners something new to think about. The Garden Starter also includes information on composting, raised bed gardening, and container gardening. As an added bonus, a removable Planting Calendar Centerfold is perfect for hanging in the kitchen, shed, or wherever garden planning is done. Download your free copy here.

March 23, 2017

Food Banks Becoming a Force for Change

Work of the Community Food Centres Canada is pointing the way for food banks and pantries interested doing more to improve health, build community, and address the root causes of hunger. A new publication, Beyond the Emergency: How to evolve your food bank into a force for change, shares advice, practical tips, and case studies to support groups wishing to create more impact. The chapters are framed by the Good Food Principles – an approach rooted in enhancing health, dignity, and equity in the charitable food system.

March 14, 2017

Emergency Food, Gardening, and Nutrition Education

A new publication by the Michigan Fitness Foundation titled Emergency Food, Gardening, and Nutrition Education: A Survey of Michigan Food Pantries highlights new findings from a statewide survey of emergency food providers. The report explores the opportunities and barriers faced by emergency food providers related to providing more fresh fruits and vegetables. It also gauges the willingness of providers to implement of specific changes to increase the availability and consumption of fresh produce. In total, the responses of 260 Michigan food pantries are included in the report.