SIKESTON, Mo. (WSIL) -- Furloughs and layoffs are becoming increasingly common in today's COVID-19 world.
The Southeast Missouri Food Bank lost many elderly volunteers due to concerns surrounding the virus. But thanks to a grant from the Missouri Foundation of Health, the pantry is getting the help it needs.
"I think everyone that works here... truly believes in the mission of the food bank, especially during a time like this," said Nate Thomas, a furloughed physical therapist and business owner from Cape Girardeau.
HIRED HELP AND HIGHER COST
A near-$200,000 grant helped the bank hire 12 temporary full-time workers for up to 10 weeks, according to chief advancement officer Lisa Church.
Once the ten weeks are up, Church says the bank will have to see what they can do next. It's one of many banks paying more money to provide more food to more families in need.
"We used to get a lot of food through retail donations, from retail grocery stores," Church said. "So we had to buy more food since those donations are down."
In the past six weeks, the bank spent $170,000 on food purchases, compared to just $45,000 in the same time-frame last year. Food costs are rising, Church says, and so are the waiting times.
"We're competing with larger food banks, we're competing with grocers in some cases, to purchase those loads," Church said.
LIFT UP SEMO
Thomas and his wife have started a campaign to raise money for the food bank by using their business to promote it. Bold Marketing in Cape Girardeau is selling shirts designed with #LiftUpSemo on the front.
People can buy the shirts on the company's Facebook and can schedule delivery or pickup times while supplies last.
Thomas says the shirts are a way to promote positivity through communities amid the pandemic. Thomas adds families must try and look at the positive amid a wave of negativity.
"Look for those positives and don't dwell on the negatives," Thomas said.
MOBILE MARKET
In Morehouse, a town about six miles west of Sikeston, vehicles lined up behind Morehouse United Methodist Church Wednesday to receive food through a mobile market.
Some vehicles had been waiting since 1:45 p.m., according to organizer Susan Cooksey. Volunteers at the market, slated to start at 5:30 p.m., began distributing boxes of food just before 4 p.m.
Volunteers distributed 150 boxes of food Wednesday. Any remaining food will go towards local housing authorities and
The next mobile market is happening Thursday at Red Pantry Inn in Cape Girardeau. For more information on mobile markets, or to donate, visit the bank's .
