2024 Session Draws to a Close with Historically Low Bill Passage

On Friday, the 2024 Missouri Legislative Session closed with little fanfare, a fitting end to a session where little work was accomplished. The legislation passed…

2025 Legislative Session Recap

The 2025 Missouri legislative session ended last week with some controversy and tension as the Senate invoked Previous Question, or “PQ”, to cut off debate.…

A Drug Conviction Should Not Mean a Lifetime of Hunger

In 1996, Congress passed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA), sometimes known as the welfare reform bill. Buried deep within that sweeping…

Action Alert: Sign on to Save SNAP!

The U.S. House Agriculture Committee has proposed a $300 billion cut to SNAP, nearly 30% of the federal funding for the nation’s largest anti-hunger program…

Action Alert: Tell Governor Kehoe to Provide Disaster Food Benefits for Tornado-Impacted St. Louisans

Action Alert: Tell Your Legislators Stand Up for SNAP & Vote No on the Federal Farm Bill

Action Alert: Tell Your Legislators to Modernize SNAP and Help Busy Families

Addressing Food Deserts & Expanding Food Access Across Missouri

Earlier this week, the Missouri Senate Economic Development Committee heard Senate Bill 790 which would provide state tax credits to grocery stores that open in…

Child Support Cooperation Requirements in SNAP Threaten Children’s Food Security

As Joseph Llobera from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities stated in his report Child Support Cooperation Requirements in SNAP Are Unproven, Costly, and…

Congratulations to our 2024 Advocacy Award Honorees

The 2024 legislative session is nearing the finish line, and with that will come a chance to celebrate what we have accomplished this year. At…

Connection, Learning and Progress: The 2024 Week of Action

It was a busy but inspiring week for Empower Missouri: our 2024 Week of Action! Throughout the week we offered three virtual training sessions (recordings…

Fallas judiciales a favor de los estadounidenses hambrientos y desempleados; El Congreso de los Estados Unidos debería hacer lo mismo con el alivio del COVID-19

Recientemente, un juez federal anuló formalmente el intento de la Administración Trump de poner fin a los beneficios de cupones de alimentos para casi 700.000 desempleados. En su fallo, ...

Elevating the Voices at the Heart of Our Work

At Empower Missouri, our goal is to empower Missourians to end poverty and make our state a better and more equitable place to be. We…

Embracing Aging: Missouri’s Master Plan on Aging

Missouri’s aging population is expected to rise very quickly over the next decade, mirroring a historic demographic shift occurring across the United States. Currently, one…

Empower Missouri aplaude la aprobación de la ley CARES; Insta a medidas adicionales para fortalecer la red de seguridad

(Jefferson City, MO) ........ Empower Missouri aplaudió hoy al Congreso por la aprobación de la Ley de Ayuda, Alivio y Seguridad Económica por el Coronavirus (CARES) de forma bipartidista y rápida ...

Empower Missouri celebra una semana de acción virtual para movilizar la acción unida sobre proyectos de ley legislativos

PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA 19 de abril de 2021 (JEFFERSON CITY, MO) ... Empower Missouri y su red de seguidores en Missouri se unirán a una Semana coordinada de ...

Farm Bill Reauthorization is our Opportunity to Strengthen the Safety Net and Enhance Food Security Programs

As advocates in Missouri much of our time is spent working the halls of Jefferson City, especially from January-May. Many of us use summer as…

Feeding Our Children is Feeding Our Future – Missouri Should Invest in Expanding the Free School Lunch Program

Are we really debating whether it is worth spending money to feed our children? Missouri’s kids deserve three meals a day without demanding they prove…

Food Insecurity Among Older Adults: A Growing Concern

As our population ages, one issue that increasingly demands attention is food insecurity. Lacking consistent access to enough nutritious food for an active, healthy life,…

Full Plate, Full Potential: Supporting Missouri’s Future Through School Meals

During the signing of the National School Lunch Act on June 4, 1946, Missouri native President Harry Truman stated, “In the long view, no nation…

Gearing up for the 2024 Legislative Session

It seems hard to believe that we’re only a month away from the start of a new year, and a new legislative session. Pre-filing opens…

Governor Parson’s Decision to Prematurely End the State of Emergency in Missouri Will Push Struggling Families Deeper into Poverty

Early in the COVID-19 public health crisis, Congress passed specific SNAP related provisions and waivers to help struggling families put food on the table. These…

Growing Our Food Systems Together: The Missouri Rural Food Access Partnership

Imagine a food system that breaks down silos, fosters innovation and collaboration, and creates sustainable food access for all Missourians that is supported through a…

Healthy Food Financing Initiative Updates: A Pipeline to Food Equity in Rural Missouri

With the holidays quickly approaching, many turn their attention to the joys of sharing meals with those closest to them. Often, preparation for holiday meals…

Hello From Our New Food Security Policy Manager, Amanda Berry

I am so honored to have the opportunity to work on food security policies as the second Food Security Policy Manager with the Empower Missouri…

Hunger Action Month Partner Spotlight: KC Healthy Kids

We’re nearly through Hunger Action Month, and this week, we are highlighting one of our (many) incredible partners in the Food Security Coalition, KC Healthy…

Hunger Action Month Resource Roundup

We’re nearing the end of Hunger Action Month, and to wrap things up, we’re bringing you more resources and information to aid in our continued…

El hambre ha sido un problema en Estados Unidos durante mucho tiempo, pero en 2021, tenemos la oportunidad de solucionar la crisis alimentaria

Ahora que la sesión legislativa de Missouri ha terminado (lea el blog de resumen de la sesión legislativa de MO AQUÍ y únase a nosotros el viernes 4 de junio en…

Invest in Human Dignity by Saving SNAP

Tonight, I’m catching a flight to Washington, D.C. to meet with staffers of Missouri’s congressional delegation and express Missourians’ opposition to the $300 billion in…

It’s Time for Missouri to Join the Majority of Other States and End the Food Sales Tax

The pandemic and its impact on our economy hit all of us hard, and illuminated the struggles low-wage workers face in ways that we had…

Lessons Learned: Anti-Poverty Advocates Summit 2021

Since 1901, the pinnacle of Empower Missouri’s work each year has been its Annual Conference. In fact, for the first decade, that was the bulk…

Let’s Band Together to Fight Hunger In Missouri

On October 16th, the world recognized World Food Day. Starting in 1945, the United Nations outlined and recognized food as not a privilege, but as…

Looking Forward to 2023

As we wrap up the year, we’re already deep into planning for the next legislative session that starts in January. Our December Friday Forum covered…

Minimum Wage is on the Ballot in Missouri: Key Points to Consider

As an organization dedicated to securing basic human needs for all Missourians through policy change, Empower Missouri supports living wages for our state’s workers. On…

Envolturas de la legislatura de Missouri: lo bueno, lo malo y lo feo

Es la tercera semana de mayo, lo que significa que está escuchando gritos de cientos de cabilderos y defensores en todo el estado que están tomando un ...

Missouri Must Fully Commit to Summer EBT in 2024

For kids in Missouri who receive a free or reduced price school meal, the summer can be one of the hungriest times of the year.…

Missouri Needs a Statewide Healthy Food Financing Initiative

Food is one of a handful of basic requirements for our survival. Yet too many Missourians are unable to meet this basic need when faced…

Missouri Rural Food Access Partnership Is Charting the New Food Landscape After OBBBA

On July 31, 2025, more than 30 cross-sector partners gathered in Columbia, Missouri, meeting inside the incredible new Food Bank Market at The Food Bank…

Missouri’s Failure to Feed Hungry Children This Summer is Inexcusable

This past spring, as the school year was winding down, nonprofits across the country began working on plans to implement their summer feeding programs for…

Los habitantes de Misuri aún necesitan un alivio inmediato a pesar de la disminución de los casos de Covid-19 y el aumento de las vacunas

En las próximas semanas, EE. UU. Se acercará a un año de vida en la pandemia mundial de Covid-19. Este último año ha traído ...

Nutrition Access for All – Two Ways We’re Working to Protect Missourians at Risk

There are many ways in which the anti-poverty issues that Empower Missouri works on intersect. Repealing the SNAP ban for people with past drug felony…

One Step Closer to Ensuring Adequate Nutrition for All Missourians

Empower Missouri’s Food Security Coalition (FSC) is dedicated to making sure that all Missourians have access to healthy meals. The charitable food sector, including institutions…

Our Advocacy Awards Brunch Honored Leaders in Our Fight

Last Saturday, June 11th, Empower Missouri supporters, coalition members, staff and other guests gathered at the Piper Palm House in St. Louis to honor our…

La pandemia y la recesión económica se combinan para empeorar la inseguridad alimentaria; Se necesita un aumento de SNAP

Desde el comienzo de la pandemia de COVID-19, la conexión entre desempleo, pobreza e inseguridad alimentaria ha sido clara. Uno de los mejores indicadores de alimentación ...

Protect WIC to Protect Missouri’s Children

The Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, commonly known as WIC, is under threat of significant cuts by the federal government. Right now,…

Providing Adequate Nutrition for Our Seniors Should Be Simple

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the nation’s largest anti-hunger program and helps millions of people who are at risk for food insecurity every…

Recapping the 2022 Legislative Session

We knew going into the legislative session that it would be a wild year. Unfortunately, wild years where very little gets done has become the…

SNAP Restrictions: An Unnecessary Burden for DSS and Our Grocery Stores

Update: In the Governor’s press release about the waiver submission he mentioned welcoming stakeholder input into the process and plan as it moves forward.  In…

Take Action to End Hunger This September

Did you know that September is Hunger Action Month? Led by Feeding America, Hunger Action Month is an annual nationwide campaign to spread awareness and…

Testimony in Opposition of SB 1616- Increase Citizenship Verifications for Public Benefits

March 25, 2026To: Senator Trent and Members of the Senate General Laws CommitteeFrom: Christine Woody, Food Security Policy Manager at Empower MissouriRe:   SB 1616…

Testimony in Opposition to HB 1222 – Imposing Unnecessary Restrictions on SNAP Benefits

My name is Christine Woody. I am the Food Security Policy Manager for a statewide non-profit organization called Empower Missouri. We lead a statewide coalition…

Testimony in Opposition to HB 1974 – Cash Ban on TANF Cards

February 25, 2026 To: Rep. Ben Keathley, Chairman, and Members, House Committee on General Laws From: Mallory Rusch, Executive Director, Empower Missouri Re: Our opposition…

Testimony in Opposition to HB 2481 and HB 2468 – Increase of Citizenship Verifications for Public Benefits

February 25, 2026To: Representative Keathley and Members of the House General Laws CommitteeFrom: Christine Woody, Food Security Policy Manager at Empower MissouriRe:   HB 2481…

Testimony in Opposition to HB 315 – Ending TANF Cash Benefits

Date: March 4, 2025To: Rep. Ben Baker, Chairman, and Members, Committee on Government EfficiencyFrom: Christine Woody, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower MissouriRe: Our Opposition to…

Testimony in Opposition to SB 662 – Imposing Unnecessary Restrictions on SNAP Benefits

Date: April 23, 2025To: Senator Jill Carter and Members of the Senate Families Seniors and Health CommitteeFrom: Christine Woody, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower MissouriRe:…

Testimony in Support of HB 1730 – Tax Credits for Food Pantries

Date: February 20th, 2024To: Chairman Thompson and The House Special Committee on Public PolicyFrom: Christine Woody, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower MissouriRe: Support for HB…

Testimony in Support of HB 1777 – Opting Out of Ban on SNAP Benefits for Returning Citizens

Date: January 31st, 2024To: Representative Rudy Viet, Chairman, and Members of the House Committee on Corrections and Public InstitutionsFrom: Gwen Smith, Criminal Justice Policy Manager,…

Testimony in Support of HB 2355 – A ‘Food Is Medicine’ Program for Missouri

February 18, 2026 To: Representative Stinnett, and Members, House Health and Mental Health Committee From: Amanda Berry, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower Missouri Re: Support…

Testimony in Support of HB 2355 – Healthcare Providers Prescribing Healthy Food as Treatment

April 15th, 2026 To: Senator Carter, and Members, Families, Seniors, and Health Committee From: Amanda Berry, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower Missouri Re: Support for…

Testimony in Support of HB 2372 – The Food is Medicine Act

April 15th, 2026 To: Senator Carter, and Members, Families, Seniors, and Health Committee From: Amanda Berry, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower Missouri Re: Support for…

Testimony in Support of HB 2438 and HB 2730 – Tax Credits for Farms and Grocery Stores in Food Deserts

Date: March 27, 2024To: Representative Brad Hudson, Chairman & Committee Members House Economic Development CommitteeFrom: Christine Woody, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower MissouriRe: Our support for…

Testimony in Support of HB 2751 – Opting Out of Ban on SNAP Benefits for Returning Citizens

Date: January 27, 2026 To: Representative Don Mayhew and the Members of the House Corrections and Public Institutions Committee  From: Christine Woody, Food Security Policy Manager,…

Testimony in Support of HB 916 – Opting Out of Ban on SNAP Benefits for Returning Citizens

Date: February 12, 2025To: Representative Don Mayhew and the Members of the House Corrections and Public Institutions CommitteeFrom: Christine Woody, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower MissouriRe:…

Testimony in Support of SB 1017 – Elimination of Sales Tax on Groceries

January 28, 2026 To: Senator Brown and Members, Senate Economic Workforce and Development Committee From: Amanda Berry, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower Missouri Re: Support…

Testimony in Support of SB 1062 – Ending the Sales Tax on Food

Date: March 25, 2024To: Senator Brown, Chairman and Members, Senate Economic Development and Tax Policy CommitteeFrom: Christine Woody, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower MissouriRe: Our support…

Testimony in Support of SB 1075 – Establishment of the Food is Medicine Act

February 18, 2026 To: Representative Stinnett, and Members, House Health and Mental Health Committee From: Amanda Berry, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower Missouri Re: Support…

Testimony in Support of SB 1499 – The Food is Medicine Act

April 8th, 2026 To: Senator Carter, and Members, Families, Seniors, and Health Committee From: Amanda Berry, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower Missouri Re: Support for…

Testimony in Support of SB 57 – Ending the Sales Tax on Food

Date: February 26, 2025To: Senator Brown, Chairman and Members, Senate Economic Workforce and Development CommitteeFrom: Amanda Berry, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower MissouriRe: Our support…

Testimony in Support of SB 67 – Updating the Food Pantry Tax Credit

Date: January 29, 2025 To: Senator Brown and The Senate Economic and Workforce Development Committee From: Christine Woody, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower Missouri Re:…

Testimony in Support of SB 973 – The Restaurant Meals Program

Date: March 4, 2024To: Lauren Arthur, Chair, and Members of the Senate Progress and Development CommitteeFrom: Christine Woody, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower MissouriRe: Our support…

Testimony in Support to HB 2457- Increase of Donated Food Tax Credit Program

March 23, 2026 To:  Chairman McGirl and The House Ways and Means Committee From: Christine Woody, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower Missouri Re: House Bill…

Testimony in Support to HB 2461- Extension of Donated Food Tax Credit Program

March 10, 2026 To:  Chairman McGirl and The House Ways and Means Committee From: Christine Woody, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower Missouri Re: House Bill…

Testimony in Support to SB 1082 – Extension of Donated Food Tax Credit Program

March 11, 2026 To:  Chairman Brown and The Senate Economic and Workforce Development Committee From: Christine Woody, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower Missouri Re: Senate…

Testimony in Support to SB 1239 – Elimination of State and Local Sales Taxes on Food

February 11, 2026 To: Senator Brown and Members, Senate Economic Workforce and Development Committee From: Amanda Berry, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower Missouri Re: Support…

Testimony in Support to SB 875 – Establishment of Restaurant Meals Program

March 4, 2026 To: Senator Jill Carter, Chair and the Members of the Families, Seniors and Health Committee From: Christine Woody, Food Security Policy Manager,…

The Hunger in the Heartland Report Offers an In-Depth Look at Food Insecurity in Missouri

Earlier this month, the Food Assistance and Hunger in the Heartland Report was released. This is a first of its kind-a comprehensive research study about…

El poder de tu activismo

Hemos escrito antes sobre el poder de la promoción mediante un clic y cómo el simple hecho de enviar un correo electrónico coordinado o firmar una petición puede ser una…

El impulso por la seguridad alimentaria será más urgente que nunca en 2021

No hace mucho que dejamos atrás el año 2020. Fue un año lleno de importantes eventos que cambiaron el mundo ya que nuestro país ...

The Restaurant Meals Program Would Make Healthy Meals Accessible to More SNAP Participants

Food Insecurity in the U.S. and Here at Home in Missouri More than 34 million people experience food insecurity in the United States. That includes…

Universal Free School Meals Have Ended – Advocacy Opportunities Continue

Just a few weeks into the new school year, many families are learning that after two years of all Missouri public school children receiving free…

USDA’s Decision to Increase SNAP Will Benefit Missouri Families

Empower Missouri and its Food Security Coalition applaud this week's announcement that a long overdue federal increase in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will…

USDA’s Decision to Increase SNAP Will Benefit Missouri Families

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is one of the most far reaching, anti-poverty programs in our country.  Over 42 million individuals are helped each…

We Must Protect Nutrition Provisions In The Build Back Better Act That Are Crucial In The Ongoing Fight Against Childhood Hunger and Food Insecurity

There was a slight delay in Congress’ work on the Build Back Better legislation these past couple weeks because Congress had to pass a continuing…

¡Estamos saliendo a la carretera! Empower Missouri está pasando nuestro verano viajando por el estado hablando sobre políticas públicas contra la pobreza

A menudo me describo a mí mismo como un organizador de base en mi esencia. Realmente creo que no hay una forma ética de abogar por cambios legislativos ...

What Happens in D.C. Does Not Stay in D.C.

This week, committees in the U.S. House of Representatives released major reconciliation proposals with cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other programs. As the title suggests,…

Cuando la escuela está en casa, ¡las comidas escolares también deben estar en casa!

Desde el comienzo de la pandemia de COVID-19, se han realizado muchos cambios en las reglas y nuevas exenciones dentro del Programa federal de asistencia nutricional suplementaria (SNAP,…

WIC Is a Lifeline for Families: Increasing Participation Is Vital

The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program is an essential resource for millions of low-income families across the United States. It is available for income-eligible pregnant…

Wrapping Up the 2023 Legislative Session

The 2023 legislative session will end today at 6PM, so there’s only a few hours remaining for the legislature to pass any final bills before…

Su donación es importante para ayudar a apoyar nuestra misión de luchar por las necesidades humanas básicas y la igualdad de justicia para todos los habitantes de Missouri

Empower Missouri ha luchado para que todos los habitantes de Misuri tengan necesidades humanas básicas y justicia equitativa desde 1901, y sin duda ha habido muchos desafíos para ...