Helping Southeast Missouri Communities Respond and Recover

When a disaster affects a community, access to food can become an immediate need. Power outages, damaged homes, closed businesses and disrupted transportation can make it difficult for families to access the food they need.

SEMO Food Bank works with our network of partner agencies, community organizations as well as local, state and federal disaster-response partners to help provide food when and where it is needed most.

Our role is to help make sure food is available to support communities as they respond to emergencies and begin the recovery process.

Responding When Our Communities Need Us

Because we serve 16 counties across Southeast Missouri, we have an established network of partners and distribution resources that can be mobilized when disaster strikes.

Depending on the situation, SEMO Food Bank may:

  • Provide food to communities affected by severe weather or other emergencies
  • Work with local emergency management officials, community organizations and partner agencies to identify needs
  • Coordinate food distribution through our agency network and other community partners
  • Help provide shelf-stable food and other essential food resources when normal access to groceries is disrupted
  • Work with regional and national food bank partners when additional resources are needed

Our goal is to provide a coordinated response that gets food to the people and communities who need it while supporting the larger emergency-response effort.

The Importance of a Coordinated Response

When a disaster happens, people naturally want to help. That generosity is an important part of how communities come together.

But the most effective response is a coordinated one. Well-intentioned donations of food, clothing and other items can sometimes create additional challenges if they arrive before responders know what is needed or where it should go.

SEMO Food Bank works with community and emergency-response partners to help match resources with actual needs. This allows donations and other support to reach communities in a way that is useful, timely and respectful of the work already underway.

You Can Help Us Be Ready

Disaster response begins long before a storm or other emergency occurs.

When you give to SEMO Food Bank, you help us provide food today while preparing to be there when our communities need us tomorrow.

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