Media

Hunger Action Month fundraiser aims to collect $135,000 for the Weekend Backpack Program

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Ozarks Food Harvest and iHeartMedia’s 105.9 KGBX will kick off the 20th annual Hungerthon radio-thon Friday morning with a goal of raising $135,000 for the Weekend Backpack Program. This initiative gives more than 1,600 local children six nutritious meals each weekend throughout the school year.

Kevin Howard and Liz Delany of 105.9 KGBX will host the four-day Hunger Action Month event from Friday, Sept. 7 through Monday, Sept. 10, asking listeners to sponsor kids for the Weekend Backpack Program. Listeners can also tune in online at kgbx.com or by downloading the iHeartRadio app.

Event hours are Friday, 6 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; and Monday, 6-10 a.m. Listeners can call 417-890-KGBX (5429) to make a pledge or donate at the event outside iHeartMedia, located at the Historic Tower Theater near Glenstone and Sunshine in Springfield.

For a donation of $300, a child will receive a bag with two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners, drinks and snacks every weekend of an entire school year. Donors can also sponsor a child for a semester for $150. Those who make a donation of at least $105.90 will receive a free Hungerthon 2018 commemorative T-shirt that can be picked up outside iHeartMedia.

There are 59 southwest Missouri schools in 16 counties that benefit from Ozarks Food Harvest’s Weekend Backpack Program, which now distributes more than 57,000 food bags annually.

Last year’s event raised more than $144,000 — enough to provide 480 children in need with a food bag every weekend for an entire school year. Since 1999, $1.8 million has been raised through Hungerthon.

Presenting sponsors for this year’s Hungerthon include MassMutual, Heart of America Beverage Company and Musgrave Foundation. Several local businesses including Expedia and Jersey Mike’s Subs are serving as event sponsors.

Community members can donate online outside of event hours at ozarksfoodharvest.org/donate. Designate funds to go to the Weekend Backpack Program. To find out more about Hunger Action Month activities, visit ozarksfoodharvest.org.

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About Ozarks Food Harvest — The Food Bank
Ozarks Food Harvest is the Feeding America food bank for southwest Missouri, providing food to 270 organizations across 28 Ozarks counties serving 261,000 unduplicated individuals. The Food Bank provides more than 17 million meals annually. Learn more at ozarksfoodharvest.org, facebook.com/ozarksfoodharvest or twitter.com/ozksfoodharvest.