Labor Day is at the top of my “Most Hypocritical Holiday Observance” list. On most holidays, large numbers of people take some action that is connected to the meaning of the holiday – practicing gratitude on Thanksgiving, giving flowers to a lover on Valentine’s Day, watching “the rockets’ red glare” of fireworks or displaying an...Read More

Empower Missouri would like to thank everyone that was able to attend the July and August Food Security Coalition meetings. Please plan to join our next meeting on  Friday, September 18th at 9am.  Debate on a package of federal coronavirus relief is expected during the week of September 7, so we will have an update to...Read More

Empower Missouri would like to thank everyone that was able to attend last month’s Food Security Coalition meeting. We hope that those who were not able to join will be able to be on our upcoming call, which will be held on Friday, August 28th at 9am.  We are hosting the meeting this Friday because...Read More

TAKE ACTION NOW After more than two months of delay, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his Caucus have finally released their proposal for the next round of COVID-19 relief. On Monday, congressional leaders unveiled a roughly $1 trillion stimulus proposal called the HEALS Act, which includes a $400 cut in unemployment benefits. The federal eviction...Read More

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, federal lawmakers have passed multiple pieces of legislation to provide emergency relief and enhance the economy. Within those first few pieces of legislation, Congress began to address the impending increase in food insecurity by implementing important waivers and new programs to help individuals and families access much needed support...Read More

The 2020 Legislative Session came to an end on May 15th, amidst the special challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite having floor debate time reduced by about six weeks due to the public health emergency, 51 bills became “Truly Agreed and Finally Passed” (TAFP) during the abbreviated session. We were disappointed to see many of...Read More

(Jefferson City, MO) …. On Thursday, Missouri announced it will resume work-hour documentation requirements in August for desperately poor Missourians receiving help from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). That is at least a month before the timing called for in the SNAP program by the Families First...Read More

On April 23rd, Empower Missouri held a webinar to discuss where Federal Nutrition Programs stand in the light of COVID-19. Sarah Ritter from Operation Food Search and Elizabeth Larsen from Legal Services of Eastern Missouri joined in on the call to talk about changes to the nutrition programs focused on children and changes to the...Read More

In her role as Manager of Public Policy, Sarah Ritter acts as the liaison between Operation Food Search and the Missouri state legislature. Sarah engages elected officials around issues relating to hunger and food insecurity. As a registered lobbyist, she works with legislators, legislative staff, and other governmental officials to promote public policy initiatives that...Read More

On March 17th, 2020, Empower Missouri held a special conference call, which shared some important and timely updates regarding food security issues on the state and the national level. In addition to food security issues during the call, Empower Missouri spoke with health experts about COVID-19 and how to protect yourself and others in the...Read More