Media

“Cans for Coffee” Food Drive Pours More Than 18,000 Meals Into SWMO

December 8, 2008

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Ozarks Food Harvest reports the final results of the McDonald’s “Cans for Coffee,” food drive to total more than 22,500 pounds of food, enough to provide more than 18,000 meals to hungry Ozarkers.

The “Cans for Coffee,” partnership between Ozarks Food Harvest and McDonald’s of the Ozarks collected food in more than 60 store locations from November 1-23.  Customers had the opportunity to receive a free McCafe® beverage of their choice for the donation of a canned good item to The Food Bank.

McDonald’s of the Ozarks and Tyson Foods partnered to boost the food drive through a special donation of more than 40,000 pounds of vital protein products to Ozarks Food Harvest on November 13.  The special donation and food drive combined have supplied The Food Bank with enough food to provide more than 53,000 meals to individuals in need.

This food comes at a crucial period for Ozarks Food Harvest; as it fights to feed the mouths of the hungry in southwest Missouri.  Throughout The Food Bank’s network, agencies are reporting double digit increases in requests for assistance.

“We are truly thankful for the food this drive has provided,”  Denise Gibson, Director of Development states, “it comes at a time when thousands of southwest Missourians are in desperate need.”

The food collected will be distributed to Ozarks Food Harvest’s network of more than 350 hunger relief organizations across 29 counties in the southwest region of the state.

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