skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, March 29, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Food Bank Use on Rise in MO

play audio
Play

Monday, March 17, 2014   

COLUMBIA, Mo. - While unemployment rates are decreasing, the economic recovery still is not trickling down to the dinner table for too many hungry Missourians. Monica Palmer, communications manager, Missouri Food Bank Association, said 2013 was a record-breaking year, with more than 100 million pounds of food distributed across the state - an increase of 23 percent from 2012.

More Missouri families are finding they simply can't stretch their budgets any farther, Palmer said.

"Their income is not keeping up, because groceries are going up, child care is going up, everything is going up, but wages are not competing - they're actually going down," Palmer explained.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture ranks Missouri number two in the nation for "very low food security," which means many of the state's residents have a hard time consistently providing food for themselves and their families.

Palmer said not only are more people visiting the state's food banks for the first time, they are relying on them for longer periods of time. That has led to a shift in the food bank mission, she said.

"Historically, food banks are the organizations that help with emergency needs, but over the last several years we've seen food banks supplying more maintenance food," she explained, "because people aren't finding the jobs, they're not getting back on their feet quite as much."

Cuts to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) last year equated to 3.5 million lost meals for Missouri families. While the recently-passed federal Farm Bill does allocate an additional $200 million to food banks nationwide, Palmer said it is too soon to know how much of an effect it will have.

More information on accessing or donating to local food banks is at www.FeedingMissouri.org.




get more stories like this via email

more stories
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

play sound

Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …

Social Issues

play sound

Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …


A 2022 report finds failing to speed up transmission beyond the current pace will increase 2030 U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions by 800 million tons per year. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Health and Wellness

play sound

A recent report examined how some rural Tennessee hospitals have managed to stay afloat despite financial challenges. The report includes interviews …

Many factors affect a customer's bill amount, including energy usage, weather, and the number of days in a billing period, according to Arizona Public Service. (Jason Yoder/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

play sound

Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

Health and Wellness

play sound

Medicare and Medicaid are key sources of health coverage for many Americans and some people qualify for assistance under both programs. With lagging …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021