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Gift comes from Walmart Foundation State Giving Program

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Ozarks Food Harvest announced at a press conference this morning that it would match dollar-for-dollar funds raised by 40 of its 250 member food pantries and feeding programs, up to $125,000, leveraging the funding to $250,000 — the equivalent of 1.5 million meals for southwest Missouri children, families and seniors in need.

All 250 nonprofit organizations in 28 counties that receive food and services from Ozarks Food Harvest are eligible to apply for the challenge grant as long as they are a member in good standing. Southwest Missouri’s food bank will award 10 $1,000 grants for food pantries serving at least 100 people, or feeding sites serving 500 meals monthly; 14 $2,500 grants for food pantries serving at least 1,000 people, or feeding sites serving 2,500 meals monthly; and 16 $5,000 grants for food pantries serving at least 2,500 people, or feeding sites serving 5,000 meals monthly. The awards will be used for food purchases for hunger relief in the Ozarks.

The $125,000 grant was awarded to Ozarks Food Harvest from the Walmart Foundation State Giving Program to increase food distribution in Missouri. The State Giving Program awarded Ozarks Food Harvest a $100,000 grant in 2010 and a $125,000 grant in 2011, which The Food Bank partnered with the Community Foundation of the Ozarks to offer it as a match to hunger relief agencies.

“We are proud of our longstanding relationship with all of our regional Walmart stores, the Walmart State Giving Program and the Walmart Foundation,” said Bart Brown, president and CEO of Ozarks Food Harvest. “Walmart has a history of transforming hunger into hope, and we are grateful they are continuing that partnership this year to help our network secure more than one million meals for thousands of families struggling with hunger.”

The Walmart Foundation State Giving Program recently granted more than $176,000 to Ozarks Food Harvest for a new refrigerated semi-truck, which delivers between 12,000 and 16,000 meals in eight to 10 deliveries daily. The first two Walmart Neighborhood Markets in Springfield also each made a $1,000 gift to The Food Bank during their grand opening celebrations.

OFH agencies have until August 27 to apply for the challenge grant, and from September 15, 2012 to March 15, 2013 to raise the funds to be matched. The Food Bank will announce agencies invited to participate in the challenge grant opportunity on September 7.

According to Ozarks Food Harvest’s latest hunger study, nearly 173,000 individuals living in southwest Missouri, or 16 percent, continue to face food insecurity, and one-quarter of these individuals have income levels that disqualify them from receiving federal assistance.

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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. OFH was named the 2011 Small Business of the Year by the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, and its facility, the O’Reilly Center for Hunger Relief, recently received a Superior AIB International Food Safety Rating. Learn more at ozarksfoodharvest.org, facebook.com/ozarksfoodharvest or twitter.com/ozksfoodharvest.

About Philanthropy at Walmart
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. The Walmart Foundation funds initiatives focused on education, workforce development, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability and health and wellness. In fiscal year ending Jan. 31, 2012, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation donated $958.9 million in cash and in-kind contributions around the globe. The company’s U.S. giving grew nearly 20%, largely due to increased donations of food to local food banks from Walmart stores, Sam’s Club locations and distribution centers. To learn more, visit walmartfoundation.org.