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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— During Hunger Action Month, Ozarks Food Harvest encourages 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 Feeding America food banks designed to mobilize the public to take action against this widespread issue.

According to the USDA, 42 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 five children and one in seven adults face uncertainty finding their next meal and may go hungry.

“Ozarks Food Harvest is able to distribute 16.4 million meals each year thanks to the thousands of donors who give of their time, talents and treasure,” said Bart Brown, Ozarks Food Harvest’s president/CEO. “September is a great opportunity to share our mission with our entire community and show how simple, and important, it is for everyone to get involved in the fight against hunger.”

Ozarks Food Harvest will host and participate in several events to raise food, funds and awareness for Food Bank programs and its network of 270 hunger-relief organizations across the 28 counties. Food Bank staff have also created a 30 Ways in 30 Days calendar that gives one idea to help fight hunger for every day in September.

• 19th  annual Hungerthon on 105.9 KGBX is Friday, Sept. 8 through Monday, Sept. 11, when iHeartMedia and Kevin & Liz team up with The Food Bank to raise money on-air for the Weekend Backpack Program.
• Go Orange Day is Sept. 14. 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. 21, with proceeds from auction items benefiting OFH. Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased at Tea Bar & Bites on Pickwick Ave.
• Farmers Market of the Ozarks’ Iron Chef competition is Saturday, Sept. 23, with donations benefiting Ozarks Food Harvest. Taste food samples from battling chefs and vote for favorites with a cash donation.
• Empty Bowls with Panera Bread will raise awareness for the issue of hunger while supporting The Food Bank on Friday, Sept. 29 at the Panera on Campbell 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, providing food to 270 organizations across 28 Ozarks counties serving 261,000 unduplicated individuals. The Food Bank provides 16.4 million meals annually.

ozarksfoodharvest.org, facebook.com/ozarksfoodharvest or twitter.com/ozksfoodharvest.