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Cans for Coffee campaign provides more than 55,800 meals

Cans for Coffee campaign provides more than 55,800 meals

November 19, 2013

McDonald’s of the Ozarks gave away free coffee for donations to Ozarks Food Harvest for sixth consecutive year, Oct. 21–Nov. 10

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Ozarks Food Harvest received food donated to the sixth annual McDonald’s Cans for Coffee drive this morning, collecting nearly 27,000 pounds — roughly 22,500 meals. Combined with a 40,000-pound chicken donation to the campaign from Tyson Foods, Inc. last month, Ozarks Food Harvest will be able to distribute 55,805 meals to its network of 200 pantries and hunger-relief programs across the Ozarks, thanks to this largest annual food drive for OFH.

From Oct. 21–Nov. 10, 63 Ozarks McDonald’s hosted the food drive for Ozarks Food Harvest, encouraging customers to donate a canned good in exchange for one free small hot McCafé® drink of their choice.

“We are so thankful for McDonald’s continued partnership, and we especially appreciate all their generous customers who help make this happen year after year,” said OFH Development Director Denise Gibson. “Not only does this food drive help all our neighbors who are food insecure, but it also increases hunger awareness here in our region.”

Since 2008, McDonald’s of the Ozarks has collected more than 140,000 pounds of food — nearly 120,000 meals — from community members through Cans for Coffee. Last year, nearly 30,000 pounds of food was collected from customers and donated to Ozarks Food Harvest for its 200 member agencies across 28 Missouri counties. Tyson Foods, Inc. donates a truckload of chicken in the name of the McDonald’s food drive every year. This year, Tyson gifted 40,000 pounds of frozen chicken.

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About Ozarks Food Harvest—The Food Bank
Ozarks Food Harvest is the Feeding America food bank for southwest Missouri, serving more than 200 organizations across 28 Ozarks counties. The Food Bank distributes 10 million meals annually to 170,000 unduplicated individuals. OFH celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2013. Learn more at ozarksfoodharvest.org, facebook.com/ozarksfoodharvest or twitter.com/ozksfoodharvest