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OFH, along with 200 national Feeding America food banks, celebrate Hunger Action Month this September

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — During Hunger Action Month, Ozarks Food Harvest will encourage those in the Ozarks to take a stand against hunger. Events will be held throughout September to raise awareness and give opportunity for the community to take part in the local effort to solve hunger.

Ozarks Food Harvest’s Hunger Action Month is part of a nationwide campaign across the Feeding America food bank network designed to mobilize the public to take action.

According to the USDA, 49 million Americans are food insecure which means they may not know where their next meal is coming from. In the 28 counties Ozarks Food Harvest serves, one in six adults and seniors struggle with food insecurity and one in four children face uncertainty finding their next meal and may go to bed hungry.

“September is a great time for our community to take action against hunger and help their neighbors in need,” said Bart Brown, Ozarks Food Harvest’s president/CEO. “We truly believe that by working together we can solve this heartbreaking issue affecting too many children, families and seniors.”

Ozarks Food Harvest will host and participate in several events to raise food, funds and awareness for Food Bank programs and the network of 200 hunger-relief organizations across the 28 counties it serves. Food Bank staff have also created a 30 Ways in 30 Days calendar that gives one idea to help fight hunger for every day this month.

• Hungerthon on 105.9 KGBX is Friday, Sept. 9 through Monday, Sept. 12, when iHeartMedia teams up with The Food Bank to raise money on-air for the Weekend Backpack Program. This year is the 18th year.
• Hunger Action Day is Sept. 8. Hunger advocates can wear orange — the symbolic color of hunger — and post their support on social media using the hashtag #HungerActionMonth and #HungerHeroes.
• Tea Bar & Bites’ Apron Fashion Show and Silent Auction is Sept. 14, with proceeds from auction items benefiting OFH. Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased at Tea Bar & Bites at their Pickwick Ave. location.
• OFH at the Farmers Market of the Ozarks is Saturday, Sept. 17, with FMO’s Iron Chef Competition benefiting Ozarks Food Harvest. Orange Ozarks Food Harvest T-shirts will be on sale for $10.
• Panera Bread’s Empty Bowls event will raise awareness for the issue of hunger while supporting The Food Bank on Friday, Sept. 23 at the Campbell location from 4:30-8 p.m. Event-goers can make a donation to receive a bowl created by a local artist as well as a meal of soup and bread.

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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 provides 14.6 million meals annually to more than 260,000 unduplicated individuals. Learn more at ozarksfoodharvest.org, facebook.com/ozarksfoodharvest or twitter.com/ozksfoodharvest.