JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — House Democrats announced that they had raised more than $3,000 worth of food and other items and $1,000 in monetary donations as part of a session end food drive.
The House Democratic Caucus Hunger Awareness Food Drive was launched last week in response to Republican policies that the Democrats say have increased hunger and food insecurity in Missouri.
“Very little help from struggling Missouri families comes from the State Capitol these days,” said House Minority Leader Jake Hummel, D-St. Louis. “Since the majority party hasn’t shown interest passing laws to address serious problems like hunger, House Democrats have taken what action we could to ensure that at least a few less children will go hungry next week.”
The caucus says that this year the legislature has enacted laws resulting in more than 6,300 children losing their welfare benefits and cut the maximum weeks of unemployment benefits by nearly one-third.
The food and money raised will be donated to the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri as well as other food pantries in the state.
