CHARLESTON, Mo. (KFVS) – A growing number of people in southeast Missouri worry about putting food on the table.

That’s according to new numbers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The department’s annual “Map the Meal Gap” report showed food insecurity in southeast Missouri jumped from 14.5 percent in 2023 to more than 17 percent in 2024.

According to the Southeast Missouri Foodbank, higher food prices are driving that increase. The national average cost of a meal is up nearly $3.50 in the food bank’s coverage area.

That report also broke down food insecurity by county in the Show Me State, and seven southeast Missouri counties landed in the top 10.

According to the report, Mississippi County ranks 7th in food insecurity and second in child hunger in Missouri.

We talked with local leaders about how they’re tracking the issue as summer break begins.

“It’s important for us to be a village,” said Lester Gillespie, CEO of Fresh Start Self-Improvement Center in Charleston.

Wednesday, May 15 marked the last day of his winter food program where he feeds up to 200 kids five days a week. The Summer Food Program begins on Thursday.

Gillespie said he’s here to help parents in need.

“It’s not so much we give out a handout. We give it, we give a hand up and I really love the fact that our parents are trying to do the best that they possibly can do under the circumstances,” he said.

Veronica Dunigan is a member of the Fresh Start organization. She said providing children with breakfast and lunch makes a difference.

“A lot of times the parents, they run out of food or either they’re working and they don’t get a chance to come home at all. Some time to feed their children, like during the summer time they’re at work all day,” Dunigan said.

And it fills a real need in this community.

“The parents feel good that their kids are somewhere and they can release them to the program and that’s what I see this program I’ve done and, and I see this continue to do and I pray that it continues to grow more and more,” she said.

Gillespie hoped talking about food insecurity in his county and across the state brings more awareness.

“I really appreciate the fact that we’re putting a light on this. We’ll bring it to full attention throughout our community and allow other people to get involved in any way they want because it is a problem,” Gillespie said.

According to Gillespie, the program provides food to children up to 18 and offers transportation to his program at the C. F. Bowden Civic Center in Charleston, Mo.

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