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In the past year, The Food Bank’s network of faith-based and community charities served an average of 70,000 individuals every month; that’s 20,000 more than during the height of the COVID crisis. Why do we continue to see more working families in need of assistance when things seem to be back to normal?

The increased demand for food is the result of a perfect storm of high childcare, housing and food costs that make it difficult for families to get back on their feet. Emergency benefits from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s nutrition programs – such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – have also ended, leaving families with fewer options to help fill the gap when times are tough. Bart tells me that hunger in Ozarks Food Harvest’s service area has increased from 1 in 7 children and adults to 1 in 5 children and 1 in 6 adults. That means you likely know a neighbor, friend or child’s classmate that isn’t sure when they will be eating their next meal.

While the demand for food has increased, food banks like Ozarks Food Harvest have also felt the effect of stubbornly high food and transportation costs as well as decreased assistance from the USDA’s nutrition programs. Programs like The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) help Ozarks Food Harvest bridge the food gap for working families who need immediate nutrition assistance. Over the past two years, TEFAP food deliveries to The Food Bank have decreased by more than 60%.

To keep up with demand, Ozarks Food Harvest continues to distribute record amounts of food to its network, including local partners such as Crosslines Springfield, Salvation Army Springfield, Least of These and 270 other faith-based and community partners across a third of our state. They’ve also increased food rescue efforts and are purchasing additional food. Last year, Ozarks Food Harvest purchased more than $3 million worth of food for its network charities to help supplement the food gap experienced by working families. They couldn’t do it without your support.

“Thank you for the help,” said a family at one of Ozarks Food Harvest’s partner charities. “It really helps us get through the month and helps us financially. The dairy and meat products are especially appreciated.”

Bart tells me your help is needed now more than ever as we head into the holiday season. You can help working families across the Ozarks put food on the table and ensure children go to school nourished and ready to learn.

One of the best ways to help is by making a tax-free charitable gift from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA), also known as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), that may you save you more in taxes than traditional charitable donations. Additionally, consider including Ozarks Food Harvest in your estate planning as Mary Beth and I have done so your gift can give in perpetuity.

If you have questions about donating to Ozarks Food Harvest in these ways, please give Bart a call at 417-865-3411 to walk you through it. Thank you for all you do to help families facing hunger across the Ozarks.