Southeast Missouri Food Bank Hires New Development Director

Executive Director Karen Green is pleased to announce the addition of Amanda Pratt to the staff of Southeast Missouri Food Bank, which has served Southeast Missouri since 1985, bringing together available food resources to assist those living in poverty.

“With the addition of a Development Director, Southeast Missouri Food Bank can now strengthen its efforts and move forward,” said Green. “Amanda has the enthusiasm, focus, and ability to do an exceptional job.”

Southeast Missouri Food Bank, affiliated with Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network, distributes food to over 140 agencies in sixteen counties in Southeast Missouri. Senior nutrition centers, church food pantries, domestic abuse and homeless shelters, and rehabilitation centers are examples of the types of agencies who benefit from hunger relief efforts.

"The focus of Amanda's responsibilities will be to strengthen Southeast Missouri Food Bank’s presence, developing annual and long-range funding plans to ensure continued growth in giving," said Green. “Her tasks will include the implementation of fundraising and donor programs, the development of special events, grant research and preparation, volunteer recruitment, and public relations, developing promotional materials, a regular newsletter and the maintenance and enhancement of our new website.”

Pratt, a Sikeston native, is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University and a McNair Scholar. She previously served as the first executive director for Downtown Sikeston’s nonprofit rehabilitation and economic development organization, the Historic Midtown Development Group, guiding revitalization efforts, which included receiving Sikeston’s first Missouri Department of Transportation Enhancement Funds grant, Sikeston’s D.R.E.A.M. designation, and coordinating several new special events.

"In the past, I have had the pleasure of working with a wonderful community that has embraced growth and opportunity,” Pratt said. “Exciting achievements are underway, and I am proud to have been a part of that success.”

Of her new position, Pratt says, “I'm looking forward to working with communities and volunteers throughout the region. I am excited about meeting the challenges and opportunities that lay before Southeast Missouri Food Bank. The staff here is committed to helping others—their dedication is impressive and encouraging.”

Southeast Missouri Food Bank’s goal is that no one in Southeast Missouri will go to bed hungry at night. Their mission is to promote food recovery; acquire and distribute food and household products; and provide community leadership and education on issues of hunger and poverty.

Pratt can be contacted at Southeast Missouri Food Bank’s administrative offices, located at 3920 Nash Road in Cape Girardeau or by calling 573-651-0400. Visit www.semofoodbank.org for more information.