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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— This September, Ozarks Food Harvest is asking the community to help raise awareness and funds for children and families facing hunger in southwest Missouri. The funds raised this September through The Food Bank’s Hunger Action Month events and partnerships will support the Weekend Backpack Program which provides nutritious meals each weekend of the school year to children facing hunger in the Ozarks.

Hunger Action Month is presented by Central Bank and is part of Feeding America’s nationwide effort to get the community involved in efforts to relieve hunger. In southwest Missouri, 1 in 5 children and 1 in 6 adults face hunger.

“Supporting children and families facing hunger in the Ozarks would not be possible without our community’s support,” said Ozarks Food Harvest CEO and President Bart Brown. “During Hunger Action Month, we’re encouraging local businesses, organizations and community members to get involved in our efforts to help end hunger in the Ozarks by donating to the Weekend Backpack Program.”

Because of the Weekend Backpack Program, over 60,000 backpacks filled with food are distributed annually to children facing hunger in southwest Missouri. Ozarks Food Harvest currently distributes more than 1,600 backpacks every week to more than 59 schools, including every school in the Springfield Public Schools district. A donation of $360 a year, or $30 per month, provides a child with weekend meals for the entire school year.

There are several ways local businesses, organizations and community members can get involved during Hunger Action Month. More information can be found at hungeractionmonth.info and below:

• 27th annual Hungerthon with iHeartRadio Springfield is Sept. 5 through Sept. 8. Tune in to Alice 95.5, US97, 100.5 The Wolf and 105.9 KGBX to listen for match opportunities that will double your impact for the Weekend Backpack Program. You can also make a donation at ozarksfoodharvest.org/donate/Hungerthon.

• Hungerthon Day at McDonald’s is Sept. 8. Participating Springfield McDonald’s will donate a portion of proceeds for every purchase made to Ozarks Food Harvest’s Weekend Backpack Program.

• Go Orange Auction is Sept. 17 through Sept. 19. Participants can bid on silent auction items like experience packages, gift baskets, meals at local restaurants and more to benefit Ozarks Food Harvest’s Weekend Backpack Program.

• Empty Bowls Online is Sept. 25 through Oct. 1. Participants can purchase bowls handcrafted by local artists with proceeds benefitting the Weekend Backpack Program. Participants can also purchase in-person on Oct. 2 at Panera Bread, 4100 S. Campbell Ave. in Springfield from 3-7 p.m.

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About Ozarks Food Harvest — The Food Bank
Ozarks Food Harvest is the Feeding America food bank for southwest Missouri, serving 270 faith-based and community charities across a third of Missouri. The Food Bank reaches 60,000 individuals monthly and provides more than 20 million meals annually. Learn more at ozarksfoodharvest.org, facebook.com/ozarksfoodharvest or instagram.com/ozarksfoodharvest.