COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri will host their 6th annual “Hope for Heroes 5K” at the Nickell Shelter in Cosmo Park Saturday morning.
The event is scheduled to take place at 7:30 a.m.
The Food Bank says the money raised will help support the Food Bank’s veteran programs including the VIP Veteran Pack Program, which helps veterans get boxes of ready-to-eat entrees, fruit, vegetables, and snacks in easy-to-open cans, as well as toiletries like razors, body wash and deodorant.
Through the Food Bank VIP Veteran Pack Program, the Food Bank says it distributes 500 boxes to veterans across 13 counties each month.
The Food Bank says they are also planning to expand the VIP Veteran Pack Program. “Last year we raised over $60,000 in support of veterans, so we’re really excited. We think we’re going to surpass that this year. We’re doing our best to make sure that happens,” said Katie Adkins, with the Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri.
USDA research suggests that working-age veterans are at a greater risk of experiencing food insecurity than non-veterans.
Furthermore, according to the University of Missouri’s Hunger in the Heartland Study, in 2021 18% of households accessing resources from one of the food bank’s pantry partners included someone who previously served in the U.S. Armed Forces Reserves or National Guard.
For anyone who wants to register, organizers say it costs $35 and people can register for the 5k in person or online at sharefoodbringhope.org/hope5k
The Food Bank says they will hold another “Hope for Heroes 5K” at the Gold Star Memorial in Jefferson City on July 1 at 7:30 a.m.
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