| Our Programs |
ADOPT-A-FAMILY
This is one of two major Christmas Programs for our clients. Each fall our interviewers collect names of families and individuals to be adopted by area businesses, schools, organizations, and individuals.
Potential donors are contacted, and then paired with a needy family/person, with pertinent, limited information on that family, in order to accommodate their needs. The main purpose is to provide food over the Christmas Holiday, when food pantries are usually closed. However, some adopters include personal care items and/or gifts as well.
ADVOCACY
A committee was formed in 2001, which advocates for the rights and welfare of the poor, staying current on proposed legislation. This committee was developed to create awareness and foster positive change that directly affects the clients we help. Members include donors, clients, volunteers, and staff. This committee publishes a newsletter called "Voice For The Poor", and issues urgent Call-to-Action notices for current legislative issues.
COMPUTER LITERACY
Computer training is available to clients who are referred to this program.
BUDGET COUNSELING
A budget counselor reviews a clients income and expenses over a five-week period and then helps to develop a working budget that is satisfactory to both the client and meets Feed My People Guidelines.
EMERGENCY AND LONG-TERM FOOD HELP
This is the main mission of Feed My People. Anyone in need of emergency food can come here to get it, either MO USDA commodities, FMP food, or both.
Long-term food help is available to those in the service area. Guidelines have been set for both the commodities and FMP accordingly. FMP has been the largest food pantry in metropolitan St .Louis for many years. We help people with emergency food twice a month and if they are really having a hard time, we help them more than twice. Our guideline is a three day supply, but usually what we give stretches beyond that. We try to provide balanced, nutritious meals which include protein food items. However, since much of our food is donated, sometimes it is difficult to meet this goal.
Our major sources of food are the St. Louis Area Food Bank and Operation Food Search. These two organizations solicit businesses to donate food to the food pantries.
Operation Food Search assigns to us different stores from which to pick up usable food that cannot be sold.
We pick up from grocery stores, bakeries, and catering companies. We receive day old bread and bakery goods, produce and fruit, and some prepared food.
The St. Louis Area Food Bank helps provide us with shelf-stable product from USDA as well as donations from food manufactures and growers across the country. In 2009, the Foodbank helped provide more then 400,000 pounds of food to Feed My People.
The St. Louis Area Food Bank helps provide us with shelf-stable product from USDA as well as donations from food manufactures and growers across the country. In 2009, the Foodbank helped provide more then 400,000 pounds of food to Feed My People.
Both the St. Louis Area Foodbank and Operation Food Search have told us that we are one among the largest of their agencies.
In addition to the Food Bank and Operation Food Search, we also rely heavily on the "Give a Meal a Month" program, sponsored by the Interfaith Partnership. Over 125 churches in the Partnership sponsor food drives to benefit the food pantries throughout the area. This has helped us keep canned goods on hand through the long dry spell of summer. We also try to provide personal care supplies. Toilet paper, soap, hygiene products, etc. cannot be purchased with Food Stamps.
GIVING TREE
Our other Christmas Program, designed to provide new gifts for the clients we serve. These items are donated by individuals, businesses, organizations and schools. Many times this provides the chance for parents to receive new toys for their children, when they otherwise couldn't afford such luxuries.
HEATER, BLANKET AND FANS
For the winter months we give out electric heaters and blankets to those who have no heat or have poorly insulated homes. In the summer months, we give out fans for cooling in the St. Louis summer heat.
HOME VISITS
For our regular clients, home visits are conducted to give the caseworker a better idea of what type of assistance would be most beneficial for the individual or family. For example, if the children are sleeping on the floor, we may be able to help the locate a bed or mattress. Home Visits also allow the caseworker to take more focused time with the client, and thus helps us determine their living conditions.
HOUSING ASSISTANCE
Feed My People provides information on affordable housing locations, Section 8, and in some situations, provide limited financial assistance for housing costs. In addition, Feed My People is the principal partner in the ownership of 48 units of affordable, clean apartments to clients who qualify. These apartment units are primarily for the "working poor," those with some income.
JOB COUNSELING
Welfare recipients who are able to work are limited to 5 years of welfare payments. Job Counselors assist clients in qualifying for employment that pays a salary equal to, or more than, the value of the welfare payments and subsidies the client is receiving. Many of our clients have never worked, or it has been a long time since they have. Thus the counselors try to help them build their confidence by teaching them how to prepare and present themselves for interviews. They discuss topics that include proper dress and appearance, and the development of a resume, if appropriate.
LAYETTES FOR NEWBORNS
Baby layettes with items suitable for newborns (clothing, diapers, bottles, blankets) are given to first time mothers. These items are often donated and put together by a special volunteer who cleans, sterilizes, and prepares these lovely layettes.
LEGAL COUNSELING
We have a lawyer available to clients, by appointment only, to provide legal advice for those who otherwise could not afford such a service.
LOW COST THRIFT STORE
We have a large thrift store at each office, which is open to both our clients, as well as the public. It contains many useful items, such as dishes, household items, clothing, children's toys, and much more. These items are priced at a low, affordable cost, and for clients who qualify, discount cards are given for use in the store. And if we have a client who cannot afford to pay anything, we will help them out as well.
RELIGIOUS MATERIAL
Since Feed My People is an inter-denominational Christian organization, we make available as much religious material as possible. Area churches are encouraged to display their literature in the Client Waiting Area. Feed My People places Christian Bible readings inside each food order. Bibles are also available to all clients, and are often purchased if all donated Bibles have been distributed.
SELF-HELP CENTER
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Each semester school supplies are collected from donations. These items include rulers, paper, notebooks, pencils, crayons, and other items. They are then distributed to all school age children.
SHOE CERTIFICATES
This program is also for children, along with the school supplies. Feed My People purchases $15 gift certificates from Payless Shoe Source, to be given to school age children.
SMOKE DETECTOR AND BATTERY PROGRAM
Each fall, Feed My People purchases a limited supply of smoke detectors to be given to clients who own homes. These clients are given smoke detectors to prevent death or injury in case of fire. If clients are renting, they are encouraged to contact their landlord or local fire department. If renting clients are unable to obtain a smoke detector, Feed My People will gladly give them one. We do this in October each year, during "Fire Prevention Month". We encourage all clients to change the batteries in their smoke detectors, in April and October, we have a limited supply of batteries to distribute.
SPRING SEEDS PROGRAM
Each year Feed My People distributes donated seeds to clients, to encourage them to grow their own vegetable gardens, lowering their food costs. Also, flower seeds help add some beauty to their lives.
TAX ASSISTANCE
VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS
Those who are interested in becoming a registered voter may complete a Missouri Voter Registration application, provided by the St. Louis County Election Board. Either the individual or Feed My People will mail completed forms.
WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM
Each office handles this differently. Lemay refers clients to STEP, Inc. while High Ridge has materials on hand. Both offices provide low cost materials to properly weatherize client's living space, to winterize, as well as to cut down on utility costs.