Even if you knew about the growing problem of childhood hunger in America, what could one person do to make a significant difference? Fortunately for St. Louis area children, Michele Helsel saw an opportunity and took action.

Ms. Helsel lives in the St. Louis metropolitan area and works for Kimball Office, our media sponsor for the Pledge to End Hunger. Since her parents have volunteered for years at O.A.S.I.S., a food pantry in St. Charles, Michele devoted herself to calling and emailing everyone she knew to sign an online pledge that triggered food donations to food banks.

Because Michele helped get over 500 Missourians to sign the pledge, Tyson Foods delivered 15 tons of protein to the St. Louis Area Foodbank as part of their commitment in the Pledge to End Hunger. That is enough to provide 140,000 servings of protein to families living in eastern Missouri and southwestern Illinois.

The St. Louis Area Foodbank distributes food to over 500 food pantries, soup kitchens and community feeding programs 70,000 people living in 26 counties each and every week.

Representatives from MediaSauce, Kimball Office, Tyson and St. Louis Area Foodbank attended the ceremony.

Local media coverage:
KMOV (CBS): Video
KSDK (NBC): Website story