Southeast Missouri Food Bank has been awarded a grant from the Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust to support the food bank’s Veterans Healthy Food Surplus Program.
SEMO Food Bank began providing boxes of healthy food to veterans in 2019 through a continuing partnership with the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, according to a press release from the food bank. The program expanded in 2021, serving 75 veterans each month. Eighty-eight percent of the 58 veterans in the program who completed both a pre- and post-survey reported improved health with access to the healthier foods.
DAV Charitable Trust awarded $63,700 to support the program.
“This is a program with proven results,” said Joey Keys, chief executive officer of SEMO Food Bank. “We know that providing veterans with access to nutritious food is helping improve their overall health. These men and women have already sacrificed so much for our country; we’re honored to be able to provide them with a resource to support their health. We appreciate DAV’s generous contribution to this program.”
The boxes are distributed through the VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, with veterans receiving 35 to 40 pounds of food, including lean protein and fresh fruit and vegetables, each month.
The Veterans Healthy Food Surplus is part of the Health Promotion Disease Prevention Program at the Pershing VA Medical Center. For information on future food distributions, veterans may contact Ashley Aubuchon at 573-778-4386.