Arvest’s commitment to community helps families put food on the table
At Arvest Bank, #CommittedtoCommunity is literally written on the walls.
Archives for April, 2025
We rescue food to end hunger
Imagine a semi-truck filled with meat, fruits, vegetables, canned goods and bread. Now, instead of that perfectly usable food filling your pantry, picture it sitting in a landfill. It’s hard to fathom, especially as 1 in 5 children and 1 in 6 adults in southwest Missouri experience food insecurity. With so much edible food being thrown away, no one should have to wonder where their next meal will come from.
Be a steady source of hope in uncertain times
The past few years have shown us just how unpredictable life can be. Families who never imagined they would need food assistance are now turning to The Food Bank for help. Prices rise, jobs change and circumstances shift—but hunger remains a reality for too many across the Ozarks. Recurring donations play a critical role in meeting the needs of our community.
Entirely volunteer-led team helps hundreds of people put meals on the table
Temperatures were below freezing at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (SEAS) Catholic Church’s monthly food distribution in January, and yet volunteers still showed up to serve their neighbors facing hunger.
How volunteers help multiply every dollar you donate
One of the biggest reasons Ozarks Food Harvest can take your $1 donation and turn it into $10 worth of groceries is volunteers.
Toni faced hunger; now she helps end it
Toni Smith is a hard worker with a master’s degree, two bachelor’s degrees, and a cosmetology license. She’s been the executive director at Carthage Crosslines Ministry for four years, organizing more client choice food options and an on-site shower for folks who don’t have those resources.
Ozarks Food Harvest will lose $3 million in food from USDA cuts this year.
USDA confirmed on March 28 that $500 million in The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) food purchases, announced last year to be funded by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), have been permanently canceled. Without these food orders, The Food Bank says there will be a $3 million food gap this year for local communities in southwest Missouri where 1 in 5 children and 1 in 6 adults face hunger.
Food Bank Volunteer Works Hard, Plays Hard, At the Same Time
“It’s not fun weeding,” said Cindy Hunter, “but when you’re weeding with somebody else, it’s a whole different world. It’s fun.” And she would certainly know. Cindy has been volunteering several times a week with The Food Bank’s Full Circle Gardens Program for over a year, not to mention she grew up on a farm. Oh, and did we tell you she has a garden of her own at home, too?