November is here! Hopefully, you’ve remembered to turn your clocks back for Daylight Saving Time. While our mornings get a bit brighter and the sun sets a bit earlier, the St. Louis Area Foodbank still has plenty of opportunities to make a big impact this holiday season. But we’ll need your help, so let’s dive in!
This November, the St. Louis Area Foodbank and Ameren are partnering up again for our annual “Thanks 4 Giving” campaign. Throughout the month, we plan to share stories and highlight interviews through our friends at First Alert 4 that showcase, in a meaningful way, the programs and people who not only support and do the work each and every day, but also the families whose lives are forever changed because of the kindness and love shown by our Foodbank Family.
We have learned many things over the years – and perhaps the most important lesson is just how close many families are to needing support, especially around the holidays. That is why our partnership with Ameren is so special, and so unique. Born out of the COVID-19 pandemic and a need to find creative ways to raise funds to provide food for the holidays, we started with a simple, yet bold idea Ameren would issue a “community challenge” and ask the bi-state region to donate to the St. Louis Area Foodbank throughout the month of November.I we were able to raise $100,000 – they would match that amount – for a total of $200,000 to purchase healthy foods for families across the bi-state region for the holidays.
And even though there was no parade, no fanfare, and no meetings happening face–to–face – our region stepped up to help us reach this goal!
As the demand for food, household items, pet food, and yes – TOILET PAPER (who could forget it) continued to grow, Ameren increased their match to $200,000 to help us meet that need.
Thankfully, the pandemic is now in our rearview mirror,but the need to help families, and more working families, still exists.
The need is even greater this year due to rising prices and sweeping changes that impact policies and programs including the USDA, the Farm Bill, and SNAP.
When we spoke with Ameren, and shared sobering statistics that 1 in 7 people in our region are food insecure, including 1 in 5 children,and that over 55% of our neighbors say they have either skipped meals or have eaten less in the past year because of higher food prices, they knew we needed to do more – together. That is exactly what I wanted to share with you today.
Thanks to the leadership at Ameren – both Missouri AND Illinois – we are issuing our largest challenge ever – and we need your help!
From November 1st thru November 30th, 2026, if the St. Louis Area Foodbank can raise $300,000, then our friends and partners at Ameren will match that dollar–for–dollar up to $300,000! Now all we need is YOU!
Everyone deserves the opportunity to experience the joy, connection, and comfort that food brings, especially during the holiday season. No amount is too big or too small to help us reach this goal – which will go directly towards purchasing healthy and nutritious meals for families, seniors, and children across the bi-state region. So, our ask, my ask, is simple – WILL YOU JOIN US?
As many families across our region are feverishly making plans and searching online for new recipes to make and share with family and friends this holiday season, we kindly ask you to consider being a part of our recipe for success, by making a secure, online donation today.
From all of us here at the St. Louis Area Foodbank – thank you.
Thank you for your trust, support, partnership, and for your kindness this holiday season. Together we can feed more families than ever. Thanks 4 Giving!
With a grateful heart,
Meredith
