Mayor Spencer Launches City Food Insecurity Fund

Today, Mayor Cara Spencer announced the launch of the 2025 City Food Insecurity Fund and called on residents and businesses in the St. Louis region to donate in an effort to fill the gap created by recent cuts to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program. 

The fund, administered by United Way of Greater St. Louis, was created in partnership with St. Louis Area Food Bank, Operation Food Search, and Integrated Health Network. All donations to this fund will be dedicated to emergency food assistance efforts and essential resources provided by local food banks, pantries and grassroots organizations. 

“1 in 5 residents in the City of St. Louis relies on SNAP benefits to make ends meet,” said Mayor Spencer. “These residents have been left in limbo by funding cuts and uncertainty at the federal level, and for those still recovering from the effects of the May 16th Tornado, this adds yet another challenge for many of our residents to contend with as they try to rebuild.” 

As of September 2025, 54,943 city residents in 31,049 households received SNAP benefits to help cover the cost of food. Benefits distributed to city residents totaled $11,525,929 in the month of September alone.

“This is an enormous gap to fill and we need all hands on deck to help meet the immediate needs of our residents,” said Mayor Spencer. 

Along with donations to the City Food Insecurity Fund, Mayor Spencer called on residents and businesses to donate food to area food drives and to food banks like Operation Food Search and the St. Louis Area Foodbank, which have seen sharp increases in demand.

“The ongoing government shutdown has stretched the Foodbank’s resources thin,” says Meredith Knopp, President and CEO of the St. Louis Area Foodbank. “Many neighbors in our community are facing extremely difficult decisions about paying for food or other essentials such as rent, medication, and utilities.”

Find more information on how to donate food or funds, or volunteer below:

2025 City Food Insecurity Fund — helpingpeople.org/cityfoodfund
The 2025 City Food Insecurity Fund is administered by United Way of Greater St. Louis. The fund will assist local partner agencies and grassroots organizations addressing challenges in delivering food assistance during the ongoing crisis.

Food Bank Donations

Operation Food Search — operationfoodsearch.org
Non-perishable donations can be dropped off 24 hours a day in the white donation bin outside the Operation Food Search warehouse at 1644 Lotsie Blvd. in St. Louis, MO. Perishable donations can be dropped off at their warehouse Monday through Friday from 12 to 4 p.m.

St. Louis Area Food Bank — stlfoodbank.org
The St. Louis Area Foodbank accepts food donations at their facility at 70 Corporate Woods Drive Bridgeton, MO 63044, Monday through Friday from 8AM to 4PM and or Saturday 8AM to 12PM

Volunteer Opportunities
Individuals can find volunteer opportunities at food pantries and food banks through the United Way volunteer portal at stlvolunteer.org/foodinsecurity

 

Media contact: 

Kathryn Jamboretz
Communications
City of St. Louis Mayor’s Office
Jamboretzk@stlouis-mo.gov, 314-484-9333