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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Ozarks Food Harvest is asking the community for help in September to raise awareness and funds for families facing hunger in southwest Missouri. The funds raised through The Food Bank’s Hunger Action Month events and partnerships will benefit the Weekend Backpack Program that provides children facing hunger with meals every weekend of the school year.

Hunger Action Month is presented by Central Bank and is part of Feeding America’s national effort to get the community involved in taking action against hunger. In southwest Missouri, 1 in 5 children and 1 in 6 adults face hunger.

“Supporting children and families facing hunger is an effort that takes the entire community,” said Ozarks Food Harvest CEO and President Bart Brown. “During Hunger Action Month, we’re encouraging local organizations, individuals and businesses to take action to help end hunger in the Ozarks by donating to the Weekend Backpack Program.”

The Weekend Backpack Program provides over 63,000 backpacks of food to kids yearly across southwest Missouri. A donation of $360, or $30 per month, provides a child with weekend meals for the entire school year.

Ozarks Food Harvest has numerous opportunities for community members to get involved in the fight against hunger during Hunger Action Month in September. More information can be found at hungeractionmonth.info and below:

• 26th annual Hungerthon with iHeartRadio Springfield is Sept. 6 through Sept. 9. Tune in to Alice 95.5, US97, 100.5 The Wolf and 105.9 KGBX to listen for dollar-for-dollar matches that will double your impact for the Weekend Backpack Program. You can also make a donation at ozarksfoodharvest.org/donate/Hungerthon.
• Hungerthon Day at McDonald’s is Sept. 9. Participating Springfield McDonald’s will donate a portion of proceeds for every purchase made to Ozarks Food Harvest’s Weekend Backpack Program.
• Go Orange Auction is Sept. 18 through Sept. 20. Participants can bid on silent auction items like experience packages, gift baskets, meals at local restaurants and more to benefit Ozarks Food Harvest’s Weekend Backpack Program.
• Empty Bowls Online is Sept. 26 through Oct. 2. Participants can purchase bowls handcrafted by local artists with proceeds benefitting the Weekend Backpack Program. Participants can also purchase in-person on Oct. 3 at Panera Bread, 4100 S. Campbell Ave. in Springfield from 3-7 p.m.

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About Ozarks Food Harvest — The Food Bank
Ozarks Food Harvest is the Feeding America food bank for southwest Missouri, serving 270 faith-based and community charities across a third of Missouri. The Food Bank reaches 60,000 individuals monthly and provides more than 20 million meals annually. Learn more at ozarksfoodharvest.org, facebook.com/ozarksfoodharvest or instagram.com/ozarksfoodharvest.