As a trial lawyer, R. Brent Hankins spends his days standing up for people who have been hurt, ignored, or taken advantage of. That commitment to justice doesn’t stop at the courthouse doors. It’s also what drives his support for Missouri Trial Lawyers Care (MoTLC), the charitable arm of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys (MATA).
Recently, Brent was proud to be a financial supporter of the MoTLC Food Bank Tour of Missouri, a statewide effort that brings trial lawyers together to fight hunger and support local food banks.
What Is Missouri Trial Lawyers Care?
Missouri Trial Lawyers Care (MoTLC) is the charitable outreach program of MATA. Through MoTLC, trial lawyers from across the state channel their time, talents, and resources into concrete projects that strengthen Missouri communities—projects like food bank partnerships, school support, and emergency relief efforts. (matanet.org)
The Food Bank Tour of Missouri is one of those signature efforts. Throughout the year, MoTLC and MATA members visit food banks across the state to donate, volunteer, and raise awareness about food insecurity in our communities.
A Statewide Effort to Fight Hunger
At a recent Food Bank Tour work day at the St. Louis Area Foodbank, a “merry band” of MATA members showed up ready to work; sorting donations from a large Boy Scout food drive, learning way more than they ever expected about “use by” dates, and helping food bank staff turn pallets of canned goods into usable, ready-to-distribute boxes for families.
By the end of this Food Bank Tour campaign, the combined efforts of MoTLC and MATA members totaled roughly $85,000 in donations and 213 hours of volunteer labor—powered in part by generous donors who stepped up through wine tosses, silent auctions, and direct gifts to MoTLC and local food banks.
Brent and his firm were honored to be among the donors supporting this initiative, helping ensure Missouri food banks have the resources they need to keep families fed when times are tough.
Why This Matters to a Kansas City Trial Lawyer
For Brent, this kind of giving isn’t a side project—it’s directly connected to why he practices law in the first place. On his “About” and “Community Involvement” pages, Brent talks about his belief that “what matters most to me is people’s well being” and that we all share a responsibility to create a safe community for our families.
That belief shows up in his long history of service, including:
- Years of board leadership and ongoing volunteer work with Sunflowers to Roses, a Kansas City–based cancer charity cycling event.
- Helping launch the Tour de BBQ bike tour to raise money for the KU Cancer Center.
- Ongoing support for organizations like Impact KC, Operation Breakthrough, and the Harvesters BackSnack program, all of which strengthen Kansas City-area families and children.
Supporting MoTLC’s Food Bank Tour is a natural extension of that same philosophy. Many of the people Brent represents have had their lives turned upside down by an injury or sudden loss. When a breadwinner can’t work, something as basic as groceries can become a real concern.
For Brent, justice for all and a better community means both fighting for his clients’ legal rights and backing efforts that keep his neighbors from going hungry.
Community-Focused Advocacy, In and Out of the Courtroom
Brent’s law practice focuses on helping people in Kansas City and the surrounding area navigate serious legal problems—personal injury claims, workers’ compensation, medical malpractice, car and bicycle accidents, and more.
He brings over 30 years of experience to each case, and the same determination that keeps his “pedals spinning” on the bike paths fuels his advocacy in the courtroom.
Supporting Missouri Trial Lawyers Care is one more way he lives out that commitment:
- Standing up for people who are vulnerable.
- Holding powerful institutions accountable.
- Doing his part to build a safer, stronger, more compassionate community in Missouri and Kansas.
How You Can Help
If you’re inspired by this work and want to support the fight against hunger in Missouri, consider:
- Donating or volunteering with your local food bank.
- Learning more about Missouri Trial Lawyers Care and future Food Bank Tour volunteer opportunities through MATA.
And if you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, is facing an insurance company that won’t play fair, or needs help with a serious legal problem, you deserve an attorney who not only knows the law, but cares deeply about the people and communities he serves.
The Law Office of R. Brent Hankins P.C. is located in downtown Kansas City at 117 W 20th Street, Suite 201. To discuss your situation and learn how Brent can help, contact the firm today and let him put his experience to work for you.