21st annual Hungerthon raises $156,564 for Weekend Backpack Program
Ozarks Food Harvest and iHeartMedia’s 21st annual Hungerthon wrapped up on Sept. 9, collecting $156,564 for the Weekend Backpack Program. The initiative provides more than 1,600 food-insecure children with food to take home every Friday throughout the entire school year. One in five children in southwest Missouri struggle with hunger, especially on the weekends when school meals aren’t available.
Kevin Howard and Liz Delany from 105.9 KGBX hosted the radio-thon, which began at 6 a.m. Friday and ended at 10 a.m. Monday outside the Historic Tower Theater in Springfield. Those involved spent 30 hours this weekend raising funds for the Weekend Backpack Program.
Backpacks were matched by individuals, businesses and foundations including Anthem, Commerce Bank, Kathy Copeland, CoxHealth, DairiConcepts, Fireworks Supermarket, Fraternal Order of Eagles #3934 Auxiliary, Harter House-Hollister, Nancy Jester, Kum & Go Charitable Fund, MassMutual, Musgrave Foundation, Peck Insurance & Financial Services, Ron & Janice Penney, Ron & Lezah Stenger, SGC Foodservice and Yahweh’s Place at Cedarville. Several local businesses including Expedia Group, Air Services All Services, Morrison, Webster and Carlton and Mid-Missouri Bank served as event sponsors.
We are so thankful for everyone who donated to help support weekend meals for children this year!