Media

OFH chosen as one of five Missouri charities for chance to receive $100,000 grant

OFH chosen as one of five Missouri charities for chance to receive $100,000 grant

July 9, 2010

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Ozarks Food Harvest was chosen as one of only five nonprofit finalists in the entire state for a chance to receive $100,000 from the Walmart Foundation Associate Choice Program. Now through August 13, Walmart and Sam’s Club associates in Missouri will have the chance to cast an online vote for the charity they feel is most deserving of the grant award.

“We are elated to have been chosen as an Associate Choice Program finalist, but sincerely need the community’s help in order to bring the $100,000 from the Walmart Foundation into southwest Missouri,” said Bart Brown, president/CEO of The Food Bank. “We’re asking community members to encourage associates at local Walmart and Sam’s Clubs to vote for Ozarks Food Harvest — a $100,000 grant to The Food Bank translates into one million dollars worth of food distribution right back to the communities we serve across the Ozarks.”

According to The Food Bank, this program was announced at an ideal time, as Feeding America® released a new study on childhood hunger last week, funding by the ConAgra Foods Foundation, which reveals Missouri has the fifth highest rate of child food insecurity in the nation. Ozarks Food Harvest also reports distributing a record 8.5 million pounds between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010 — a value of $14,280,000 distributed to its Network of more than 300 charitable member organizations.

“This is a great opportunity for people to get involved and take hunger relief action,” Brown said. “It’s as simple as asking your cashier in the check-out lane if they’ll please take a moment to vote for Ozarks Food Harvest on their intranet, mywalmart.com.”

As the only food bank in southwest Missouri, Ozarks Food Harvest leverages every dollar donated to $10 worth of food distribution. The Food Bank also administers the Weekend Backpack Program™ in schools across the Ozarks, providing a backpack full of nutritious food to at-risk children who were otherwise going hungry.

# # #

About Ozarks Food Harvest—The Food Bank
Ozarks Food Harvest is the only food bank in southwest Missouri, serving more than 300 hunger relief organizations across 28 Ozarks counties. The Food Bank reaches more than 155,000 individuals and distributes 8.5 million pounds of food annually — made possible due to its network of charities and direct-relief programs such as the Weekend Backpack Program™, Kids Cafe® and the Mobile Food Pantry™ program. Learn more at ozarksfoodharvest.org and at facebook.com/ozarksfoodharvest.