USDA funds boost St. Louis Area Foodbank for food insecurity

BRIDGETON, Mo. – The St. Louis Area Foodbank will be getting money from the USDA to help in food-insecure areas on both sides of the river. Local farmers and food pantries will see an immediate benefit when the need is great for so many citizens.

Last Friday, the USDA announced $230 million for food assistance programs nationwide and food banks, including the SLAF’s Bridgeton location.

“This investment will go toward T-FAP, the emergency food assistance program and other food safety net programs like that,” Ericka Kinkead, St. Louis Area Foodbank’s director of marketing and communications, said. “These are programs that are directly impacting the lives of our neighbors who are in need of that food assistance. Getting that food onto their tables and into their pantries.”

As August begins, the St. Louis Area Foodbank knows the need will only increase from the area pantries they serve, like the neighborhoods of north St. Louis struck by the May 16 tornado.

The Bridgeton warehouse is where donated food is collected, sorted, and delivered to pantries and partners on both sides of the river.

“We really appreciate that this is an effort to source local food nationwide because that’s something we’re really passionate about here at the food bank,” Kinkead said. “Whenever possible, we source products from our local farmers in Missouri and Illinois. So, keeping that in the local food system is incredible and it also helps our neighbors in those communities.”