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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Ozarks Food Harvest received a $15,000 gift from the Caterpillar Foundation to help bring more food to people struggling with hunger in the Ozarks, including the West Plains area, which is home to a Caterpillar facility.

The grant to the regional food bank for southwest Missouri — part of a $1.5 million investment that Caterpillar Foundation is making to Feeding America food banks across the country — will go towards food sourcing initiatives that will result in more food for local food pantries, shelters and soup kitchens.

“We are so appreciative of the support from organizations like the Caterpillar Foundation, which helps us keep food on our neighbors’ tables,” said Denise Gibson, development director at Ozarks Food Harvest. “This gift is especially important as food insecurity continues to remain high in the Ozarks. The grant will help us fulfil our mission to transform hunger into hope for more people in need in communities we serve.”

According to the USDA, 49 million people in the U.S. struggle with hunger, including 170,000 people in Ozarks Food Harvest’s 28-county service area. In southwest Missouri, one in four children are food insecure.

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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 10 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.