Food Security

Empower Missouri is dedicated in making sure every household in Missouri has healthy meals. We believe that key policy changes can help decrease the burden on the nonprofit sector by improving access to government-run social safety net programs, improving job training opportunities and pushing for living wages that allow families to afford adequate food, and eliminating food deserts in rural communities around the state. 

Key Stats

• 13.2% of Missourians live in poverty.
• One in 7 households in Missouri struggle to put food on the table. 
• People in rural areas and households led by people of color experience hunger at disproportionately high rates.
• Food banks in Missouri distribute over 120 million pounds of food every year

The Plan – Ending Hunger in Missouri

Ending food insecurity in Missouri requires private as well as public support. Private charities can and do play a role in addressing hunger in our communities, but they cannot do it alone.  Our government should ensure every person in our country has enough resources to be able to access enough healthy food to support their bodies. There needs to be comprehensive policy and programmatic strategies at the governmental level to fully address the need.  

Empower Missouri recommends these long-term proposals to address hunger in Missouri:

• Streamline nutrition program implementation for the state and non-profit partners and streamline access to nutrition programs for families. 
• Increase outreach and education about the benefits of WIC, with increased participation in the program as the ultimate goal. 
• Expand access to affordable and nutritious food in rural areas by addressing food deserts. 
• Address, through policy changes, barriers for seniors and people with disabilities with accessing nutrition programs.