Hunger in Missouri, Ozarks among highest in the Union

(kspr.com) - Struggling to find that next meal is a feeling all too familiar with many here in the Ozarks.

Now a new U.S. Department of Agriculture study ranks Missouri in the bottom 10 of places with food insecurities in the United States.

The major issue is there's just not enough money.

The director at Crosslines, Mark Struckhoff, says many in the state of Missouri don't make enough to buy food for their families on top of all their other expenses.

Making the problem even worse is the fact that many people hide their hunger.That makes it more difficult for people in the community to find those who need help.

Many who go to Crosslines are working parents who say it's hard making it on a limited income.

“This is actually my first time coming here they have things like that where i am from but it's...they run out of things fast because it's a lot worse there but it's nice to have an organization to help you like this,” says Katie Conway who recently moved to Springfield for more opportunities from Flint, Mich.

Conway is looking for a full time job and she says if Missouri raises its minimum wage it would make a big difference for people who are struggling.

Struckhoff says many of the people who come here also have other issues that affect their ability to buy food. That includes disabilities, unexpected circumstances and family illness.

Crosslines says it's already served 34,000 people this year at its food bank and the director says poverty has doubled in Greene County in the last ten years.

However, Struckhoff says city leaders in Springfield seem to be trying to make changes to address the need for food and we should start seeing some changes in the near future.

Sign-ups for Crosslines holiday food baskets will start later this month.

That will be October 19th, Crosslines says it's looking for volunteers and money to assist those families needing a little more help during the holidays.