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Boy Scouts go Scouting for Food in March to benefit Ozarks Food Harvest

March 4, 2021

32nd annual food drive helps families facing hunger in southwest Missouri

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— The Boy Scouts of the Ozark Trails Council will collect food and funds this month as part of the 32nd annual Scouting for Food event benefitting Ozarks Food Harvest and its network of 270 food pantries and meal programs.

Flyers and plastic grocery bags will be dropped off in neighborhoods throughout March for the event, and Scouts will return to pick up nonperishable food donations. Food and fund donations will also be accepted at the Ozark Trails Council headquarters, 1616 S. Eastgate, and at Ozarks Food Harvest, 2810 N. Cedarbrook Ave., through April 4.

“Part of what Scouts recite at each meeting is the Scout Oath: a promise to embrace a duty to others,” said Carl Peterson, district director for the Boy Scouts of the Ozark Trails Council. “Scouting for Food is a great way for Scouts to exact that promise and serve their fellow community members. We are thrilled to partner with Ozarks Food Harvest to help with the hunger need in our area.”

Scouting for Food comes at a great time as Ozarks Food Harvest continues to purchase record amounts of food to meet the demand caused by COVID-19. Since April 2020, Ozarks Food Harvest has purchased an additional $3.6 million worth of food to ensure food pantries don’t struggle to keep their shelves stocked.

“We want to remind folks that many families are still facing hunger and struggling with employment due to COVID-19,” said Denise Gibson, Ozarks Food Harvest’s director of development and communication. “We appreciate the Scouts and everyone involved that helps families put food on the table as we continue through the pandemic.”

Since Scouting for Food began in 2002, local scouts have helped provide more than 200,000 meals to children, families and seniors across the Ozarks. The Food Bank will distribute the food and fund donations to its network spread across 28 counties in southwest Missouri. For those interested in more information or making an online donation, visit mightycause.com/event/Ofh-Scoutingforfood.

About Ozarks Food Harvest — The Food Bank
Ozarks Food Harvest is the largest COVID-19 related donor to charities in southwest Missouri. Since April 2020, Ozarks Food Harvest has hosted more than 115 Mobile Food Pantries, purchased an additional $3.6 million worth of food and provided a record-breaking 20 million meals for its network of 270 hunger-relief organizations. Learn more at ozarksfoodharvest.org, facebook.com/ozarksfoodharvest or twitter.com/ozksfoodharvest.