HANNIBAL, MO — The Riedel Foundation is continuing its partnership with the Hannibal Salvation Army this upcoming holiday season, awarding a total of $15,000 to fight hunger in the community. The funding includes a $10,000 grant to provide Christmas food boxes and an additional $5,000 to stock the Salvation Army’s food pantry—an especially critical resource as federal food assistance programs face uncertainty due to the ongoing government shutdown.
“Food insecurity doesn’t wait for policy resolutions,” said Jake Reed, Donor Relations Coordinator with the Salvation Army. “Our food pantry is a critical resource for local families facing hardship, and this generous gift from the Riedel Foundation ensures we can continue meeting urgent needs in our community.”
Reed noted that this is typically a slow season for pantry donations. Shelves are nearly bare, with minimal vegetables available, and demand is expected to rise in the coming weeks. The pantry serves residents year-round and is bracing for increased traffic as economic pressures mount.
In addition to the food pantry donation, the Riedel grant also helps provide Christmas food boxes which will be distributed to about 800 people in December. Those boxes feed a family of four to five and they include a 4-pound ham, canned fruits and vegetables, stuffing, dinner rolls, pie, and more—plus vouchers for cereal, milk, and eggs for breakfast.
“We think of Christmas as a joyous season, but it can be the source of a lot of worry and financial stress for families who struggle to make ends meet,” said Riedel Foundation Administrator Sarah Deien. “This grant ensures that families who need help will be able to celebrate with a traditional Christmas dinner.”
The Salvation Army will distribute Christmas food boxes on December 16. The distribution is scheduled to coincide with the Hannibal Jaycees Adopt a Family program to make arrangements easier for people who participate.
The Riedel Foundation is a long-time supporter of the Salvation Army in Hannibal and has awarded approximately $6.5 million in grants over the past 25 years to dozens of local nonprofit organizations.