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Grant will help provide meals for families facing hunger in Howell County

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Ozarks Food Harvest received a $27,400 grant from the Caterpillar Foundation to provide food to more than 6,400 people who face hunger in Howell County. Ozarks Food Harvest, a member of the Feeding America network, is one of 30 food banks selected to receive this grant, which will help support local hunger-relief efforts.

“This grant will help bring so much more than just meals to the people we serve in Howell County,” said Denise Gibson, director of development and communication at Ozarks Food Harvest. “It will bring them hope for the future. We are so thankful to the Caterpillar Foundation for its commitment to hunger relief in the Ozarks.”

Ozarks Food Harvest serves more than 261,000 unduplicated individuals each year in 28 counties throughout the Ozarks. With both food and fund donations, The Food Bank provides more than 1.4 million meals per month to children, families and seniors in need.

“The Caterpillar Foundation supports programs that alleviate poverty in communities in which we live and work. 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 Kathryn Karol, Caterpillar vice president and chairman of the Caterpillar Foundation Board of Directors. “When people’s basic human needs are met, they are able to more effectively pursue economic and educational opportunities. And when they can do so, an entire community can benefit.”

Since 2015, Caterpillar Foundation has provided $3.9 million in county-level grants to Feeding America food banks. Caterpillar Foundation’s grants also helped food banks provide 10.5 million pounds of food in counties where Caterpillar employees live and work. This donation will help provide more than 300,000 meals to local children and families in Howell County.

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About Ozarks Food Harvest — The Food Bank
Ozarks Food Harvest is the Feeding America food bank for southwest Missouri, providing food to 270 organizations across 28 Ozarks counties serving 261,000 unduplicated individuals. The Food Bank provides more than 17 million meals annually. Learn more at ozarksfoodharvest.org, facebook.com/ozarksfoodharvest or twitter.com/ozksfoodharvest.

About Caterpillar Foundation
Founded in 1952, Caterpillar’s philanthropic organization, the Caterpillar Foundation, has contributed more than $740 million to help make sustainable progress possible around the world by providing program support in the areas of basic needs, education and environmental sustainability. To learn more about the global impact of the Caterpillar Foundation, visit www.togetherstronger.com. To connect with us on social media, visit caterpillar.com/social-media.