By SIKESTON, Mo. (July 7, 2023) – This summer, The Landing in Van Buren, Missouri, invites floaters to give back and support neighbors facing hunger. On Saturday, July 15, The Landing will donate 10 percent of all rental costs to the Southeast Missouri Food Bank. The food bank serves 16 counties in southeast Missouri, including Carter County, where The Landing is located.
Jeremy Bedell, family owner of The Landing, expressed excitement about the partnership: “The Landing is excited to partner with the food bank and help families across our area defeat hunger through ‘Float to Feed Southeast Missouri.’”
According to the most recent Map the Meal Gap data, southeast Missouri has some of the highest rates of hunger in the state, with 1 in 7 families being food insecure. The food bank served 70,000 people each month in 2021, and that number increased to 80,000 each month in 2023.
Sarah Garner, chief advancement officer of SEMO Food Bank, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “We’re seeing more families and individuals needing assistance right now due to higher food costs. Summer is an even harder time for families when kids are home from school, so ‘Float to Feed Southeast Missouri’ could not come at a better time. We’re grateful for The Landing’s support and excited about this partnership!”
In addition to the event, The Landing will host a virtual food drive from July 10 to July 23 to benefit the food bank.