Media

Area grocery and convenience stores help out Ozarks Food Harvest

November 12, 2007

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— More than 70 local grocery and convenience stores are participating in Ozarks Food Harvest’s annual Check Out Hunger campaign to help feed the hungry in southwest Missouri this holiday season.

The campaign, which begins November 19 and goes through December 31, allows customers to make a tax-free donation with their purchase when they check out at Akin’s, Dillon’s, Harter House, Murfin’s Market, Price Cutter, Ramey’s, Smillie’s, Smitty’s, Summer Fresh and Woods Supermarket. New this year, Cody’s Convenience Stores will place donation jars on check out counters for customers’ donations.

According to the food bank, there are more than 150,000 people in the Ozarks at risk of hunger – 50,000 are children – and for every dollar raised, Ozarks Food Harvest can feed seven hungry people.

“Because we are seeing a large increase in the number of requests for food assistance, we’re really hoping shoppers can help us out over the holidays,” Denise Gibson, development director for the food bank, said. “We’re always so grateful to our retail partners who come through and also help us educate our community about how many people need help right here in the Ozarks.”

Ozarks Food Harvest distributes more than four million pounds of food annually to its network of 323 agencies across 29 Ozarks counties. The Food Bank also offers direct relief through its Kids Cafe, Food for Thought, Club F.U.N. and Mobile Food Pantry programs.

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To learn more, contact Lindsey Neddenriep at (417) 865-3411.