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Ozarks Food Harvest receives $14,000 grant from the Caterpillar Foundation to help feed families and children in Howell County

Ozarks Food Harvest receives $14,000 grant from the Caterpillar Foundation to help feed families and children in Howell County

November 3, 2015

Springfield, Mo.  – The Food Bank announced a $14,000 grant from Caterpillar’s philanthropic organization, the Caterpillar Foundation, to provide food to individuals who face hunger in Howell County.  A member of the Feeding America network, Ozarks Food Harvest is one of 35 food banks nationwide to receive this grant. This is the second year the Caterpillar Foundation has provided support to Howell County.

“Ozarks Food Harvest is thankful to the Caterpillar Foundation for its commitment to fighting hunger and supporting families in need across the Ozarks,” said Denise Gibson, Director of Development and Communication at Ozarks Food Harvest. “Because of this grant, we will be able to better serve children, families and seniors in need.”

Each year, 49 million people in the United States face hunger, including 17 percent of residents in Howell County. This gift will bring more food to people struggling with hunger in southwest Missouri, including the West Plains area, which is home to a Caterpillar facility. It will also help fund the Weekend Backpack Program at Richards Elementary in West Plains.

“The Caterpillar Foundation is committed to alleviating poverty.  We are proud to partner with Ozarks Food Harvest to support individuals in Howell County who may not know where their next meal will come from,” said Michele Sullivan, president of the Caterpillar Foundation.

The Caterpillar Foundation’s current investment of $1 million will help to address hunger surrounding Caterpillar communities in 49 counties throughout the United States. The Foundation has invested $3.5 million dollars in Feeding America member food banks since 2013.

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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 provides 14 million meals annually to more than 260,000 unduplicated individuals. Learn more at ozarksfoodharvest.org, facebook.com/ozarksfoodharvest or twitter.com/ozksfoodharvest.

About the Caterpillar Foundation
Founded in 1952, Caterpillar’s philanthropic organization, the Caterpillar Foundation has contributed more than $600 million to help make sustainable progress possible around the world by providing program support in the areas of environmental sustainability, access to education and basic human needs. To learn more about the global impact of the Caterpillar Foundation, please visit www.caterpillarfoundation.org