Sharing blessings in Camden County
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On an especially hot day in July, Al and his cousin Toby sat in a vehicle while waiting for their turn to go through the line at a Mobile Pantry in Camden County.
Al, a former lawn care specialist, did not balk at the heat, saying he would rather be cutting grass in the near triple digit weather.
“I miss physical labor,” he said. “I loved long hours of mowing and hauling hay.”
Al has slowed down now and, having been self employed, lives on limited finances. Toby has a similar story - he worked construction jobs around the country before returning to his home to be closer to family.
The two ride together to the Camden County Mobile Pantry at Church of Osage Hills in Osage Beach on the second Friday of each month. In July, the two were thrilled to receive fresh watermelons, potatoes, apples and eggs.
“It’s helping out a lot on groceries,” Al said. “Me and my wife are on a fixed income.”
Toby is quick to thank those who make the pantry possible.
“It is a blessing,” he said. “God bless you.”
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Hunger hurts. Buddy Packs can help.
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Hunger hurts. It hurts physically, and it can hurt the development and education of a growing child.
More than half of the children living in our 32-county service area qualify for free or reduced price lunch at school. When the weekend comes, many of these children no longer have access to food. Buddy Packs are bags of kid-friendly nutrition sent home on Fridays with children who receive subsidized school meals.
For just $180, or $15 a month, we can provide one Buddy Pack every weekend for the entire academic year. Each Buddy Pack contains two ready-to-eat entrees, cereal with shelf stable milk, a fruit cup, a nutritional bar and some sort of snack if available. Peanut butter is provided monthly.
Hunger hurts. Buddy Packs can help.
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Kirksville Farm and Home donated $10 to the Adair County Buddy Pack program for every pair of boots or shoes sold during a three-day promotion in July. The effort raised a total of $1,720 - enough to provide Buddy Packs to nine children every weekend during the school year. Farm and Home sold 154 pairs of shoes for a donation of $1,540, then Twisted X donated an additional $180. Owner Greg Gordon, center, said he plans to make the campaign a yearly event, as he knows how important it is to provide children with healthy weekend food. Also pictured are Ashley Moncrief, clothing and footwear manager, and Cheri Coin, regional director for The Food Bank.
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The Food Bank's Executive Director Lindsay Young Lopez was recently highlighted in the "Strong Woman" profile in CoMo Living Magazine.
In the feature, Lopez talks about her role, which she describes as the "best job in the world."
To serve others is the highest calling, and to turn that into a career is the ultimate accomplishment," she says in the article. "This job is more than an occupation — it really is a vocation and a way of life for me and my family."
Lopez also opens up about how she found a strength she did not know she had following the tragic loss of her husband late last year.
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We ask our partner agencies to provide testimonials from their clients.
Ione Bickell from the Mexico Senior Center in Audrain County writes:
We appreciate all that The Food Bank contributes to our program. With rising costs, all donations are appreciated. With The Food Bank helping, it helps us to save on our monthly budget.
This story comes from Jeannie Sampo at New Franklin Cares in Howard County:
Had an elderly lady stop by for the first time and she had just lost her home to a fire. She said she had been able to replace everything except enough food. She said she was blessed because we gave her food to help her out and she couldn't thank us enough for helping her out. She was so happy we could help her out that she just cried from the blessing she had received.
All of the clients are so grateful for us being able to help them out with the food. They really like it when the truck comes and gives them fresh produce and frozen items. Most of them cannot say thank you enough and are so nice and helpful when needed. I am so glad that I am able to do for them because it does help them to make ends meet when without it they could not make it. I appreciate the fact that they take what they need and do not take more just because it is there. It is nice to see the community bringing in food to donate to those who don't have.
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Kids Helping Kids Day is Aug. 26
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Kids Helping Kids Day will be Saturday, Aug. 26, at The Food Bank. This event allows children as young as 4 years old to volunteer with us and help neighbors in need. Each shift includes a peek at our Warehouse, which holds 2 million pounds of food, and a visit from Buddy the Backpack, our Buddy Pack mascot.
Morning and afternoon shifts are available. Email Melanie at [email protected] to register.
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