Least Of These, Inc. is the only full-service food pantry serving Christian County, one of the fastest growing counties in the state of Missouri. Started in 1998 as a community outreach project of a Nixa Church, Least Of These, Inc., provided food for 7 families in its first month. By the end of the first year, 100 families were receiving food. Currently, Least Of These, Inc. is serving more than 1,200 families each month.
Least Of These currently provides food and hygiene assistance, food-related resources, and special evening hours for working clients, as well as a mobile food pantries at Chadwick in eastern Christian County and Clever, the western portion of the county. During distributions, we collaborate with community partners to extend indirect services to families. Together with these partners, we assist clients in navigating the resources they need to move from dependency to self-sustainability.
Monthly over 1,400 Christian County families, with over 4,100 individuals and almost 1,500 children, visit Least Of These for assistance because they are food insecure. They must choose to pay for food or pay their rent or utilities. Often senior clients face paying for their medications or buying food to eat.
The 5 to 7 days’ worth of food provided includes fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy products, whole grains and proteins, canned goods and staple items, as well as important hygiene products. These food choices often mean the difference between nourishment or skipping meals.
In 2022, Least Of These served 12,874 Christian County Families.
- Children under 18 and Seniors over 60 make up 52% of those served.
- Least Of These distributed more than 2 million pounds of food in 2022.
- 100% of Least Of These’s funding comes from individual, business, church, civic organization and grantor donations.
- Through established relationships, Least Of These is able to provide $10 of food for every dollar you donate. $20 donated = $200 worth of food.
The numbers of families in need just keep climbing. Because no child should ever have to go to bed hungry and no senior should have to choose between buying medications or meals, we are thankful for community support of support Least Of These. By helping us, we can help feed the least of these among us.