Our Impact

These days, Tommy is focused on getting by — and helping others do the same.

He was born and raised in Charleston, later spending years working in Chicago before returning to Southeast Missouri to be closer to family. Today, much of that family is gone — his mother and brother have both passed — and Tommy now lives on disability. 

Still, he does what he can to take care of himself … and others. 

Each month, Tommy picks up a senior food box through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), a USDA program distributed locally by Southeast Missouri Food Bank through a network of partners across its 16-county service area. He doesn’t just pick up for himself; he also picks up boxes for two friends who don’t have transportation. 

“I mean, I know I’m gonna eat,” Tommy said when asked what the program means to him. 

That certainty matters. 

Across Southeast Missouri, 5,600 seniors rely on CSFP each month, with a waiting list of others who qualify. Each box includes about 35 pounds of shelf-stable food — fruits, vegetables, proteins, grains, and dairy — helping seniors maintain their health while stretching limited incomes. 

“It’s pretty important,” Tommy said. “I know I get my canned goods, my juice, things I need.” 

Like many in rural communities, Tommy faces added challenges when it comes to accessing food.

He often drives to a larger town to find better prices and more options, a trip that takes time and money. 

And like everyone else, he’s feeling the strain of rising costs. 

“You might get one bag (of groceries), you know. And that’s it,” he said. “Prices going up everywhere.” 

The monthly CSFP box helps fill in the gaps, providing consistent, nutritious food he can count on. 

“Yeah, it helps a lot,” he said. 

For Tommy, the program is about more than what’s in the box. It’s about knowing he, and the friends he helps, won’t go without.