January 2018
Moore to retire after nearly two decades of acquiring food
The year was 1999. Bill Clinton was president. The country was in a tizzy about Y2K. Don Moore just wanted a career change.

A former newspaper circulation manager and produce department manager, he was interested in working for an organization with integrity and a purpose. He found that purpose at The Food Bank.

In the nearly two decades since, he has been responsible for much of the nearly 400 million pounds of food The Food Bank has acquired to help people in need.  

Moore will retire on Jan. 12 to spend more time with his wife and family. He leaves behind a legacy of building relationships that have allowed The Food Bank to grow and expand.

Moore started at The Food Bank as warehouse manager but soon assumed the dual role of food 
solicitor and volunteer coordinator. He says much of his work today stems from efforts he put into the roles during those early years. He established several weekly volunteer groups, for instance, that continue to serve today.

As food solicitor, he familiarized himself with the Feeding America network of food banks, comparing 
how many pounds of products each food bank distributed every year.

“I called every food bank on the list and told them if they ever had surplus, we would take it,” he says.

They did, and today, many still call when they have an overabundance of goods to share.

Food solicitation is a balancing act, Moore says. He works to maintain relationships with local grocers and wholesalers while also being mindful of their time and businesses. And while he understands the importance of acquiring healthy food, he has also been willing to accept bulk items other food banks may be quick to dismiss.

Once, when a manufacturer was having a tough time finding anyone to take a truckload of women’s pantyhose that were otherwise headed to a landfill, Moore accepted them, knowing they could be used to dress formally for work or job interviews. On another occasion, he accepted a load of candles, reminding his co-workers that homeless individuals could use them to heat canned foods.

Moore has received plenty of recognition for his work, including being named Feeding America’s food solicitor of the year in 2014. He also once received an award for helping General Mills distribute a snack 
cracker when they had an overabundance of the product.

But Moore stresses that the job was never about accolades. 

“It’s all about connections,” he says. “And many of the connections I formed 17 years ago has allowed me to do what I do.”

Those relationships are what he says he’ll miss most about The Food Bank. 
“I felt like I was able to talk to friends and family all day,” he says, “and get paid for it.”
"The Buddy Packs help because when my mom and dad are gone, we have food.
 We eat everything." - Buddy Pack Recipient, Pettis County
Donor Spotlight
MFA Oil Company staff members in December pledged $22,103.67 in contributions to The Food Bank in 2018. Because of The Food Bank's bulk purchasing power, those donations will equate to $464,177 worth of groceries to distribute to neighbors in need. Pledges were raised during the company's second year of hosting a Week of Giving. Pictured are MFA Oil Company CEO Mark Fenner and The Food Bank Executive Director Lindsay Young Lopez.
Volunteer Spotlight
Greg Grinch was honored as Volunteer of the Month in December. In 2017 alone, Grinch volunteered nearly 500 hours not only repackaging food in the Volunteer Room but also at special events, including the One for One Holiday Food and Fund Drive. A retired elementary school principal from Ohio, he and his wife moved to Columbia to be closer to family, including his brother-in-law, former MU Head Football Coach Gary Pinkel. He is pictured here with Volunteer Room staff Guy Clow, left, Melanie Lake and Teresa Coleman.
Agency Testimonials
Each month, we ask our partner agencies to share with us news from their organizations and the people they serve.

Julie Jacobs from the Versailles Nutrition Site in Morgan County writes:

During Thanksgiving and Christmas many senior citizens attending our lunch programs are so very thankful that they have a wonderful Senior Center to come to for a full course meal at this time of year.
 
Dorothy Herndon from Child Safe of Central Missouri, Inc. in Pettis County tells us they were able to provide nutritious snack options after school to children who had not eaten lunch and were hungry.

Heather Gieck from Healing House in Cole County writes:
 
We have several women who came out of prison, who enter the program with absolutely nothing. The food we get helps them to make a good start!

Kim Drummond at California Nutrition Center in Moniteau County tells us:

With a small center, we really count on the food products from The Food Bank to enhance our food program. We appreciate it so much!