Stories of Hunger

Volunteering in the COVID-19 pandemic can be a scary proposition, but doing it for a cause you truly believe in and knowing it makes a difference to those in need is a risk worth taking for Tim.

“I just love helping people. That’s why I’m here,” he said as he directed traffic for a Southeast Missouri Food Bank COVID-19 Response mobile food pantry at Cape First Church in Cape Girardeau.

The importance of providing food to people who truly need it weighed heavily on him.

“It’s very important. People are stuck at home and have lost their job and things. I’m sure there are people here who would have never expected to come to something like this, but you’ve got to feed your family one way or another,” Tim said.

He and his wife have helped at other mobile food pantries in the area and volunteer anytime they can.

“It’s always been a real good experience. It’s really enjoyable to just help out,” he said.

With an increase in the number of people needing food assistance and a decrease in food donations from retailers, Southeast Missouri Food Bank is having to purchase more food, further straining its limited resources. Tim encourages those who can to make monetary donations.

“[Mobile food pantries] couldn’t be done without it. If donations weren’t there, you couldn’t operate. It’s going to a good cause,” he said.