Coming soon: September is Hunger Action Month
Hunger Action Month is Ozarks Food Harvest’s annual advocacy and education campaign. Community members and business partners help The Food Bank bring attention to the issue of hunger in southwest Missouri.
Proceeds from Hunger Action Month will support our Weekend Backpack Program, providing meals for children like Tyler, age 10, who have difficulties learning and behaving in school because they don’t get enough to eat.
“When I’m hungry, it makes me feel really irritable, and I just don’t really feel the same way as I normally would,” Tyler shared. “When I’m learning, it will derail the way that I’m learning because I’m not listening the same way that I was when I was not hungry.”
Businesses, groups and individuals can all fight childhood hunger by hosting their own fundraiser, becoming a community partner or attending these events.
Go Orange Day is Sept. 2. Wear orange to raise awareness of the issue of hunger, and share a photo on social media with #HungerActionMonth and #HungerHeroes to show others how you support our mission. Don’t forget to tag Ozarks Food Harvest! Head to Hy-Vee on Battlefield, too, where Gold Mountain Communications will be hosting a store-front drive. Swing by to make a donation!
Hungerthon, our annual radio-thon with iHeartRadio Springfield, will be Sept. 10–13. Tune in all weekend and make your pledge of $360, or $30 a month, to sponsor a year of weekend backpacks for a child overcoming hunger.
Empty Bowls is back in-person this year. Patrons can also purchase handmade wooden and ceramic bowls donated by local artists online Sept. 20-23, or in person on Sept. 24 at Panera Bread on South Campbell Ave.
Through the Apron Fashion Show presented by Tea Bar & Bites Café, you can bid on handcrafted aprons and other unique items from local businesses and artists. The online auction will be Sept. 27–29, with the in-person event happening Sept. 30.
We hope you’re as excited as we are for this year’s events! To learn more about all things Hunger Action Month, visit hungeractionmonth.info. If you would like to partner with us, contact Sarah Byrd at sbyrd@ozarksfoodharvest.org.