On May 22, 2019, an EF-3 tornado tore through portions of Jefferson City and Eldon, damaging over 600 households. Widespread flooding followed in the weeks after, affecting lives across much of our service area. Suddenly left without their homes or electricity, hundreds found themselves in urgent need of food. The Food Bank responded quickly.
The stories we heard while distributing food were heartbreaking. Many lost the stockpiles of frozen and refrigerated food during power outages. Others lost their homes, including a mother of five boys who came to an Emergency Mobile Pantry. We gave her all the food she could carry. Some came to get food for others who couldn't travel, like the brother of a man who lost his roof during the tornado.
In Cole County alone, we distributed 37,885 pounds of disaster relief products. Chariton, Lewis, Marion and Miller counties received a combined 17,731 pounds. Those supplies were in addition to the regular monthly distributions.
To get food in the hands of people who needed it, The Food Bank worked with its community, state and national partners. We sent Emergency Mobile Pantries to Jefferson City. Partner Agencies in Brunswick and New Franklin received additional food to distribute. The Food Bank sent hunger-relief boxes and water bottles to Hannibal to help people affected by flooding. Finally, we brought packages of food and cleaning supplies to Multi-Agency Resource Centers created for disaster victims in Jefferson City, Eldon, Boonville and Brunswick.