“Changing Times” from AMG Broadcasting, featuring hosts Dr. Mary Byrne and Lynn Morris. The episode’s guests are Angela Hudson (Executive Director) and Jackie Breedlove Harness (Director of Development and Community Relations) of the non-profit organization Least of These [01:15].
The conversation centers on the critical work Least of These does to combat food insecurity and poverty in Christian County, Missouri.
About Least of These
- Mission: Least of These is the only full-service food pantry in Christian County [02:20]. They strive to provide a full cartload of supplemental food—about five days’ worth—to families, using a choice pantry model that allows clients to select items, which helps preserve their dignity and eliminate waste [02:26].
- Food Offerings: The organization focuses on providing high-quality, fresh food, including fresh meats, produce, dairy, and shelf-stable items, highlighting the importance of protein and fresh vegetables [02:45].
- Resources & Education: Beyond food, the organization works to build trust and relationships to take “deeper dives” into the causes of a family’s poverty or food insecurity [03:35]. They offer a “build a path” strategy, connecting families with resources for childcare, education, budgeting, healthcare, and more to move them toward self-sustainability [03:56].
Impact and Efficiency
The organization maintains a lean operation and is a highly-rated charity.
- Scale (2024 Numbers shared in the interview):
- Stewardship: Least of These has a 100% four-star charity rating from Charity Navigator, and they pride themselves on being good stewards of donations [09:16].
Current Needs and How to Help
The organization is currently experiencing a significant increase in demand, which they attribute partly to the pause in SNAP benefits [13:30]. They are currently seeing an average of 25 new families calling in each day needing services [13:37].
You can help in the following ways:
- Donate Money: Cash donations are the most efficient way to help, as their buying power is much greater. A holiday meal can be provided for a family for $30 [28:44]. They also mention that qualifying Missouri residents can take advantage of a 50% NAP tax credit for bigger donations [44:08].
- Donate Food/Items: Food collection is currently being coordinated with the Ozark and Nixa Fire and the Fire Academy through the month of November [18:28].
- Volunteer: They are always in need of volunteers for warehouse logistics, heavy equipment, office work, interviewing, and distribution [15:37]. They recently packed 1,600 Thanksgiving meals in just one hour thanks to 262 volunteers [16:44].
- Advocate/Connect: You can take a tour, share what you learn with others, or invite a representative to speak to your organization [35:20].
To donate, volunteer, or learn more, visit their website: leastofthesefoodpantry.org
