The Food Bank this month celebrated its 35th anniversary with an Open House event featuring a Columbia Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting, tours, culinary demonstrations and volunteer opportunities.
The event also celebrated the donors, volunteers, partner agencies and other friends who make the work of The Food Bank possible.
The Food Bank began as a grassroots effort in September 1981 in Boone County. Today, the organization serves an average of 104,000 individuals every month across a 32-county service area.
Over its 35 years, The Food Bank has begun a number of programs targeted to get food into the hands of those who need it. Today, one of our most significant programs is the Buddy Pack Program, which provides bags of nutritious food to children who receive free or reduced-price lunch at school. These bags of kid-friendly food are taken home on Friday and for some children represents the only nutrition they have when they are not at school.
Additionally, The Food Bank provide 1,800 senior boxes each month to help older adults supplement their diets.
This year, the organization has begun piloting a program to assist U.S. Veterans. The VIP Veteran Pack program began in Boone County in May and provides shelf-stable, easy-to-open meals for local veterans living at or below poverty.
“We could not do this work without your support,” Executive Director Lindsay Young Lopez said during brief remarks at the anniversary event. “You donations, your volunteer work, your friendship truly makes possible our mission of sharing food and bringing hope.”