Stories of Hunger

Linda was born and raised in Portageville and knows how poor her community is.

“There’s a lot of people here that need this,” Linda said of a mobile food distribution Southeast Missouri Food Bank held in Portageville recently with Reaching All In Need.

On a fixed income of less than $900 a month with increasing rent costs, Linda barely gets by. Plus, rising food prices have limited what she can buy.

“If it wasn’t for getting this food here, there would be some food I couldn’t even buy,” she said.

Others in Linda’s family also struggle. Her nephew lost his job because of the state shutdown due to COVID-19. With four children to feed, he also visits food pantries.

Although her community struggles, Linda loves Portageville and the help she and others receive.

“Giving this food away is nice. I like what I can get, and if I don’t use it, I’ll find someone else who can,” she said.

She is also thankful for the volunteers who pack the food boxes, load them into vehicles and those who direct traffic.

“They do a hard and good job,” Linda said.