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Ozark Empire Grocers Association supports Weekend Backpack Program

Ozark Empire Grocers Association supports Weekend Backpack Program

July 24, 2012

Ozarks Food Harvest to expand number of children served this fall

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Ozark Empire Grocers Association’s George and Ruth Dillard Memorial Golf Tournament benefited Ozarks Food Harvest’s Weekend Backpack Program this year. The Backpack Program provides bags of nutritious, kid-friendly foods and hygiene items to at-risk students in 30 area schools.

More than 60 golfers helped raise $4,000 at the annual OEGA golf outing at Silo Ridge Country Club in Bolivar last month. The funds, presented to The Food Bank at OEGA’s board meeting last week, will provide one dozen children in need with a backpack full of food every weekend for the entire upcoming school year.

“As an association of food retailers and suppliers, it only made sense that we would support a food charity that has a far reaching mission of helping people with their food needs — especially children,” said Bill Smillie, executive director of the Ozark Empire Grocers Association. “That’s why we chose to support the backpack program to help provide healthy food for kids when school is not in session.”

In year’s past, Ozarks Food Harvest has provided nearly 900 children with the food backpacks over the weekends, totaling nearly 30,000 bags filled annually. For the upcoming 2012­–13 school year, The Food Bank plans to serve approximately 1,200 students, expanding to reach an additional 300 children.

OFH’s Weekend Backpack Program serves Bakersfield, Buffalo, Carthage, Fair Play, Hurley, Joplin, Marshfield, Monett, Morrisville, Mt. Vernon, Rueter, Springfield, Taneyville, Theodosia, Thornfield and West Plains.

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About Ozarks Food Harvest—The Food Bank
Ozarks Food Harvest is the Feeding America food bank for southwest Missouri, serving 250 organizations across 28 Ozarks counties. The Food Bank distributes 10 million meals annually to 170,000 unduplicated individuals. Learn more at ozarksfoodharvest.org, facebook.com/ozarksfoodharvest or twitter.com/ozksfoodharvest.

About Ozark Empire Grocers Association
Ozark Empire Grocers Association is a regional trade association whose mission is to serve and advance the common interests of the food and grocery industry on behalf of its members. OEGA was formed in 1950 by retail grocers and is part of the Missouri Grocers Association (MGA). The board of directors is made up of representatives from Alps, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Bair’s Grocery, Country Fresh, Fast N Friendly, Food 4 Less, Frito Lay, Garrison Marketing, Harter House, Hiland Diary, Hostess, Ozark News Distributors, Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company, Porter’s Supermarkets, Pyramid Foods, Summer Fresh, Wells Enterprises, Will Fischer and Woods. Learn more at ozarkempiregrocers.com.