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Ozarks Food Harvest hits annual distribution record

June 30, 2014

The Food Bank surpasses its 2015 distribution goal — a year ahead of schedule — delivering more than 15 million pounds of food across the Ozarks

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Ozarks Food Harvest distributed more meals in one year than ever before — in its 31-year history — as of today.

“We’re providing more meals than ever before, and we couldn’t be more grateful to our supporters and food donors who make it possible,” President/CEO Bart Brown said.

At 9:30 a.m., staff celebrated surpassing 15 million pounds, the equivalent of 12.5 million meals, during its last fiscal year which ends today.

On June 10, the organization announced hitting the 14 million pound mark — more than one million pounds over its annual distribution goal of 13 million pounds by fiscal year 2015. This put OFH a whole year ahead of schedule — and by an entire million pounds.

Now The Food Bank is celebrating being ahead by an entire two million pounds, thanks to an influx in fresh produce distributed during the second half of June.

“In our last three-year strategic plan, we set a goal to distribute 13 million pounds of food annually by our fiscal year 2015, which puts us more than two million pounds over our goal, an entire year ahead,” Brown said. “It’s more than 12.5 million meals we’ve provided to our network.”

Ozarks Food Harvest hit 15,023,428 pounds this morning.

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About Ozarks Food Harvest   The Food Bank
Ozarks Food Harvest is the Feeding America food bank for southwest Missouri, serving 200 organizations across 28 Ozarks counties. The Food Bank distributes more than 12 million meals annually to 170,000 unduplicated individuals. OFH celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2013 and received its second consecutive Four-Star Charity Navigator rating the same year. Learn more at ozarksfoodharvest.org, facebook.com/ozarksfoodharvest or twitter.com/ozksfoodharvest.