OFH receives more than $17,000 from “Idol Gives Back”
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Reality television is helping get food to hungry children across the Ozarks.
Ozarks Food Harvest was awarded a $17,397.79 grant this month for its Summer Food Service Program from money raised during two episodes of “American Idol” on FOX television last April.
The Charity Projects Entertainment Fund, a group established to raise awareness of poverty across the United States and Africa, raised more than $74 million during “Idol Gives Back,” the “American Idol” special on FOX.
America’s Second Harvest, the nation’s food bank network which Ozarks Food Harvest is a member of, was one of four charity recipients, and administered grants to its member food banks with children’s programs.
Ozarks Food Harvest applied for a $17,397.79 grant to increase the numbers of children served in the Ozarks through its Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) by 12 percent. SFSP feeds children during the summer months when they would otherwise not have access to the free and reduced school meal program. The Food Bank serving 325 hunger relief agencies in 29 Ozarks counties was presented all of the requested funds.
The fundraiser will return to the program April 9 on FOX.
Ozarks Food Harvest is seeking local sponsors to help expand one of The Food Bank’s other children’s programs, Food for Thought, the weekend backpack feeding program. If you are interested in sponsoring a local elementary school, or a child’s backpack, please call 865-3411 or Transform Hunger into Hope at ozarksfoodharvest.org.
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To learn more, contact Lindsey Neddenriep at (417) 865-3411.