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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Ozarks Food Harvest launched their Summer Harvest campaign, presented by Pinegar Honda, this week to help raise awareness and 45,000 meals for child hunger in southwest Missouri.

The Summer Harvest campaign brings attention to the increase in child hunger when students lose access to free and reduced-price meals from their schools for up to 90 days during summer break. More than 2 out of 3 children served by Ozarks Food Harvest receive free or reduced-price school meals.

“Many kids go to bed hungry during summer break when school meals aren’t available,” said Bart Brown, president/CEO of Ozarks Food Harvest. “We’re helping families bridge the food gap with our Summer Harvest campaign so kids can grow, learn and play without worrying about their next meal.”

In The Food Bank’s service area, 1 in 7 children face hunger. Ozarks Food Harvest works to end child hunger over the summer through its Summer Food program that provides nearly 32,000 meals each year. The Food Bank also utilizes its Mobile Food Pantry program and network of 270 hunger-relief charities to serve 70,000 individuals each month as the demand for food continues to rise.

The Food Bank has several ways for the community to get involved in their Summer Harvest campaign that runs through September 2. Participants can find more information about the campaign at ozarksfoodharvest.org/hunger-doesnt-take-a-summer-break-get-involved-with-summer-harvest.

• Splash and Sizzle is May 25 – Sept. 2. Between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. daily, admission to all Springfield-Greene County Park Board outdoor pools is $1 or free with one canned food item per person.
• Ozarks Food Harvest Month at Community Blood Center of the Ozarks (CBCO) is June. Blood donors can donate their LifePoints to Ozarks Food Harvest throughout June and CBCO will make a monetary donation.
• Taste of SoMo with the Downtown Springfield Association is June 22. Participants can sample southwest Missouri restaurants while Ozarks Food Harvest receives a portion of the proceeds.
• Lucas Oil Speedway Food Drive is June 22. Donors will receive one free ticket to the races in Wheatland for every four nonperishable food items donated.
• Bingo at 4 by 4 Brewing Company is August 1 at the Galloway location and August 8 at the Fremont Hills location. Participants can purchase specially selected beers that benefit Ozarks Food Harvest.
• Volunteer with Ozarks Food Harvest at ozarksfoodharvest.org/how-to-help/volunteer.

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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 70,000 individuals monthly and provides more than 20 million meals annually. Learn more at ozarksfoodharvest.org, facebook.com/ozarksfoodharvest or instagram.com/ozarksfoodharvest.