The food bank provides donated food to hungry people in mid-Missouri at no cost, one of only five food banks in the entire country to do so at no charge.  Most food banks offer the food at a reduced cost. The food bank earns less revenue to pay for its costs of operation because they offer it for free.

The number of people in need increased 92 percent from April 2007, through April 2008.  

With gas prices increasing nationwide, it makes transporting the food less affordable than before.

"We don't pay for food, but we pay for transportation," said Mike DeSantis, marketing coordinator of Central Missouri Food Bank.

Even though the food bank is facing a cash-crunch recently, the food bank is not going to compromise its service.

"The last thing we'll cut back is our food supply," said Peggy Kirkpatrick, executive director of the food bank. Kirkpatrick has been working at Central Missouri Food Bank for 16 years.

As a result, the food bank is cutting back on some of its agencies in certain areas that they feel are less necessary.

Aside from its staff, there are a number of volunteers working at the food bank, which help lower its costs. Typically students, the volunteers work for several hours a at time helping repackage bulk foods and relabeling donated foods.

According to Kirkpatrick, Central Missouri Food Bank serves 85,000 people per month. The city of Columbia receives the most distribution from Central Missouri Food Bank. 

The food bank also collects medicine, nutritional supplements and cosmetics. The food bank also receives merchandise returned to Wal-Mart that is returned without major problems.

Reported by Ashley Gaughan and Fan Bu