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OFH named Charitable Organization of the Year, honored with 2009 Economic Impact Award

July 28, 2009

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Southwest Missouri’s regional food bank, Ozarks Food Harvest, was named the 2009 Economic Impact Award winner in the charitable organization category by Springfield Business Journal last week.

The Food Bank infused $8.5 million of food into the local economy last year; and, every $1 donated generated more than $8 worth of food assistance.

Ozarks Food Harvest is a national leader in innovative hunger relief programs — over the past year, The Food Bank was chosen as a pilot food bank for a retail pickup program, an initiative of Walmart and the nation’s food bank network, Feeding America; added a second Mobile Food Pantry™ vehicle with help from the Rotary Clubs of Springfield and Nixa and local Ridewell Corporation; plus moved into its new $4.8 million warehouse, marking the end of a five-year capital campaign.

The Food Bank also received the inaugural Economic Impact Award for the nonprofit sector in 2005.

Ozarks Food Harvest is located at 2810 N. Cedarbrook Ave. in North Springfield. The distribution center opened July 1 to its network of more than 350 hunger relief charities, and on September 15 The Food Bank will hold the official public dedication event. The public is also welcome for tours September 16–18, 2009.

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About Ozarks Food Harvest—The Food Bank
Ozarks Food Harvest dedicated its larger, more efficient distribution center on Sept. 15, 2009. It is the only food bank in southwest Missouri and serves more than 350 hunger relief organizations, reaching more than 55,000 people each month in 29 Ozarks counties. OFH distributed seven million pounds of food during its last fiscal year — the highest distribution in The Food Bank’s 25-year history — 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.