Southeast Missouri Food Bank in Cape Girardeau will receive a portion of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to feed local low-income children and families.

The Missouri Association of Food Banks, a network of six Missouri food banks, will share the $12 million in stimulus funding, said Kit Brewer, operations director at Southeast Missouri Food Bank.

Brewer did not yet know exactly how much his organization would receive as details with the state of Missouri are still being negotiated.

The funding comes at a time when the food bank needs a boost, he said.

"Every year, the food demand goes up throughout the summer as kids are out of school. A lot of those kids who are involved in free and reduced lunch programs are now eating more at home," Brewer said.

The funds received as part of the Recovery Act will be used primarily for transporting donations to the food bank and then distributing it to the 160 local agencies in 16 counties it serves.

A portion also will go to support the Backpacks for Friday program, in which children in need are sent home from school each Friday with a backpack containing easy-to-open meals and nutritious snacks. Last school year the program started at Jefferson and Blanchard elementary schools in Cape Girardeau. This fall the program will expand to Morehouse Elementary and Southeast Elementary in the Sikeston, Mo., area.

mmiller@semissourian.com

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Pertinent Address:

3920 Nash Road, Cape Girardeau, MO