On a recent visit to the St. Louis Area Foodbank, you could feel the urgency in the air. Giant warehouse shelves held stockpiles of food, many of which were marked to be picked up in the coming days by local food pantries. “Food is going out as quickly as it comes in,” said Melanie Martin, CNP, Director of Community Engagement. “But that just means our community is getting the resources they desperately need.”

After a devastating tornado tore through North St. Louis, Melanie and her team found themselves at the heart of a massive recovery effort. The community rallied. Partnerships strengthened. Volunteers poured in throughout the region. Including, for a day, my wife and I, returning to support the community I grew up in. Together we packed Senior Assistance Boxes: nutritious, shelf-stable food packages for low-income seniors. As the USDA’s agency of choice for the region, the St. Louis Area Foodbank packs and distributes more than 8,000 of these boxes each month, delivering them through a network of over 600 partners across 26 counties to seniors in need.

The St. Louis Area Foodbank doesn’t just serve St. Louis, Missouri. They are the regional food bank for Eastern Missouri and Southwestern Illinois. Their mission supports a long-term, deeply coordinated hunger relief across two states. And at the center of this is a passionate Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) whose own story almost led her elsewhere.

A well-organized conveyor belt station awaits for volunteers to quickly pack and prepare senior assistant boxes

A well-organized conveyor belt station awaits for volunteers to quickly pack and prepare senior assistant boxes.

From Education Major to Building a Career in Service

“I thought I was going to be a teacher,” Melanie recalled. “Then I sat in a classroom to observe and thought, ‘I don’t like this.’ I wasn’t passionate. My GPA was dropping. Something had to change.”

With the guidance of Paul Harmon, a fellow CNP and former college advisor, Melanie discovered a new path: nonprofit management! “It was like a key turned,” she said. “I was getting 100s on every test. It all just clicked.”

After enrolling in the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance and earning her credential at CNP Campus Partner, Missouri Valley College in 2016, Melanie felt like she had found her calling. “It sounds cliche,” she admitted, “but I had found what I was supposed to do.”

Melanie joined the St. Louis Area Foodbank nearly nine years ago as an agency relations coordinator, knowing very little about food banking at the time. “I was very honest in my interview,” she said. “I told them, ‘I don’t know this world yet, but I’m a hard worker and I’ll figure it out.’” And figure it out, she did! 

Melanie went on to create the Foodbank’s SNAP outreach program, assisting neighbors with applications for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. From there, she moved into advocacy and was eventually promoted to Director of Community Engagement. “I didn’t realize I had such a passion for public benefits and access to resources until I started doing the work,” Melanie said. “Food is 100% my love language. It makes sense now.”

Melanie Martin is a Certified Nonprofit Professional and Director of Community Engagement at the St. Louis Area Foodbank. She has worked with the organization for nearly a decade, helping to build hunger relief and advocacy efforts across 26 counties in Missouri and Illinois

Melanie Martin is a Certified Nonprofit Professional and Director of Community Engagement at the St. Louis Area Foodbank. She has worked with the organization for nearly a decade, helping to build hunger relief and advocacy efforts across 26 counties in Missouri and Illinois.

Advocacy That Starts with Listening

One of the most powerful aspects of Melanie’s work is her ability to bridge policy and community experience. “I am the one who speaks up in the room. I ask the uncomfortable questions,” she said. When state officials want to know what’s happening on the ground, she shares real stories from the people they serve.

“At the Foodbank, we don’t dictate who needs food,” she emphasized. “If you are hungry, we will serve you.”

A welcoming message for St. Louis Area Foodbank staff and partners at the Hunger Engagement Center. A space for collaboration, strategic planning, and staff development!

A welcoming message for St. Louis Area Foodbank staff and partners at the Hunger Engagement Center. A space for collaboration, strategic planning, and staff development!

Fighting Hunger with Partnerships and Innovation

The St. Louis Area Foodbank serves as a major regional distribution center, supplying over 600 partner agencies throughout the area. “We operate similar to a wholesale food hub,” Melanie explained. “Our role is to move large quantities of food efficiently through our programs and to organizations doing direct service across 26 counties.”

Their programs reach deep into the community:

The impact is significant:

  • Last year, the Foodbank distributed 42 million pounds of food at no cost to neighbors in need.
  • 1 in 7 people across the bi-state region rely on food assistance.
  • Volunteers contribute the equivalent of 20 full-time staff members.
  • More than 96% of every dollar donated goes directly to food programs and services, maximizing every dollar’s impact.

“The ultimate goal is for people to no longer need us,” Melanie said. “We want them to move beyond food pantries and public benefits. Until then, we’re here.”

A St. Louis Food Bank staff member preparing industrial crates filled with boxes of nonperishable items to be distributed

A St. Louis Food Bank staff member preparing industrial crates filled with boxes of nonperishable items to be distributed.

A Call for Community Support

Following the devastating tornado that struck North St. Louis in May, many state-level supports are now beginning to phase out, but the need hasn’t gone anywhere. Melanie and her team are working closely with the United Way, Urban League, the Mayor’s office, and many others to develop a long-term response plan. “Just because it’s been two months doesn’t mean the need is gone,” she said. “This will be long term.” 

That’s where community support becomes crucial. Visit stlfoodbank.org to learn how to volunteer, donate, or support their efforts.   

Inspired by Melanie’s story? Join the national movement of purpose-driven professionals with the  Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) credential!

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