New Chapter by Meredith Knopp
January is upon us – which means a new year filled with new opportunities. Before we jump in and look at all the fantastic ways we can make 2026 memorable, I wanted to take a moment to genuinely thank you for being a part of our Foodbank family and supporting our work in 2025.
Whether volunteering with us at the St. Louis Area Foodbank or at one of our many community-wide food distributions, your time with us made a difference. Families who were struggling to make ends meet, who were impacted by the tornado last May, or by the government shutdown, were able to provide for their families due to your kindness. This is something we do not take for granted and are genuinely grateful for here at the Foodbank.
Or perhaps you hosted a community food drive at your company or put together a virtual food drive to support our neighbors in need. Every can, every box, and every bag filled with food that was gathered at your location, dropped off over the holidays, or picked up by a community volunteer mattered. They found their way to a pantry, a table, and ultimately, a neighbor in our community who was grateful to enjoy your generous donation, most likely with their family members or friends.
And then some generously opened their wallets, wrote checks, sold stocks, or made an online donation (some even make monthly donations!) to help fund our mission, knowing that all monies donated stay local, and over 96 cents of every dollar went directly to programs to serve, support, and strengthen our community. Your compassion, contributions, and commitment to our mission are critical to ensuring we can meet our community’s needs, no matter what. We appreciate your support and partnership!
The bottom line is that 2025 was filled with incredible joys- like commemorating 50 years of service and impact across our region, as well as unexpected challenges, such as a tornado and a government shutdown. I could not be prouder or more humbled by how our organization and our community responded. We remained calm, steadfast, and resolute in our commitment to our region. It is what we have done for the past 50 years – and what we commit to doing for the next 50 years.
None of us knows what the future holds, or what 2026 will look like – despite our attempts to do so. We can anticipate, if the past is any indication, that there will be moments of joy and celebration, and yes, challenges as well. At the St. Louis Area Foodbank, we focus on three things:
- Staying focused on what we can control
- Staying calm and not reacting or overreacting to any situation
- Staying positive and always looking for ways to turn challenges into opportunities
Having a positive mindset truly sets the stage for approaching any challenge, and that is how we are entering 2026 – looking forward to the opportunities to continue learning and growing, as we innovate and support our region.
So, while many people make New Year’s Resolutions (and cheers to those who make and KEEP them by the way), I am choosing instead to look at the long game and recognize that every day is a gift and an opportunity to be a light for someone in our community. Knowing that while you cannot control everything, you can control how you react and respond to anything is truly powerful – and a mindset that will help navigate whatever 2026 brings.
This image was sent to me via text on January 1, and I believe it is not only an insightful message, but one that holds such a powerful reminder for all of us:
My goal, and my challenge to you, is that we commit to writing 12 excellent chapters this year, filled with memories, opportunities, kindness, and lessons learned, and not waste any pages on things we won’t be proud of or want to re-read on December 31, 2026.
Happy New Year, one and all! Let’s make this the best year ever!
