Media

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Ozarks Food Harvest received a $7,000 general operating support grant this month from MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, one of the largest privately supported philanthropic organizations addressing hunger in America.

According to the food bank, the grant will help offset the expenses associated with food distribution. Ozarks Food Harvest estimates distributing nearly 5 million pounds of food to its network of more than 300 agencies in its 29 county service area for 2007.

“Our goal is, and has always been, to serve as many people as possible and educate the public about the solvable problem of hunger. By continuing to develop and improve our programs, seeking more support form our community, educating the public and advocating for our clients, we expect to increase our distribution and transform hunger into hope for more impoverished children, families, seniors and individuals in southwest Missouri,” said development and communications director Denise Gibson.

Ozarks Food Harvest’s long-time supporter, MAZON, raises funds principally by asking American Jews to contribute 3% of the cost of their life-cycle celebrations and makes grants to nonprofit organizations working in the U.S. and abroad to reduce hunger, malnutrition and poverty. Since its founding in 1986, MAZON has awarded grants totaling over $34 million to emergency feeing programs, food banks, anti-hunger advocacy groups, multi-service organizations offering food, shelter and counseling, and small-scale hunger relief and development projects in Israel and poor countries.

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