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The Food Bank is Unveiling New Logo and Mission Statement in Conjunction with National Hunger Awareness Day

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.– In conjunction with National Hunger Awareness day June 6, Ozarks Food Harvest, The Food Bank, is unveiling a new logo and summary of their charity’s mission, “Transforming Hunger into Hope”.

The new mission statement supports the core vision of The Food Bank’s activities, which is to acquire and distribute wholesome food to a network of charities assisting community members in need, and to improve the quality of life for the communities served by educating, empowering, and enlightening people across the Ozarks about the issues of hunger and nutrition. Through the work of staff and board member focus groups, and the volunteer help of marketing professionals, Ozarks Food Harvest created the statement “Transforming Hunger into Hope” as a visionary and meaningful summary of their goals.

To better compliment the new mission affirmation, Ozarks Food Harvest also recreated their logo. As a board member of Ozarks Food Harvest, graphics artist Matt Graif, of Graif Designs, helped create a symbol of the new mission statement “Transforming Hunger into Hope”. “I wanted to represent the generosity and compassion of Ozarks Food Harvest’s mission with the new logo. Its warm and bright design better expresses what they do, and it’s easier to recognize and remember.” Graif said.

“Food is the basic element of life, and the new logo, an artistic representation of an apple and a heart combined, is more emotional and better symbolizes the heart of what we do,” said Bart Brown, Executive Director of The Food Bank.  “We also felt that our previous tagline, ‘The Food Bank of the Ozarks’, was a bit redundant, since Ozarks Food Harvest is the only food bank in our 35 county service area.  We shortened it to read ‘The Food Bank’,” Brown continued.

“This is more than just a new logo and mission statement,” said Denise Gibson, Director of Development and Communications, “this is a natural evolution of who we are and where we are going as an organization.”

This June Ozarks Food Harvest is hosting several exciting events in recognition of National Hunger Awareness Week.

• HUNGERTHON 2006 — June 2 – 5, Ozarks Food Harvest and Alice @ 95.5 will conduct their 8^th annual radiothon fundraiser at the Clear Channel station at the Historic Tower Theater shopping center. This important four day event is the largest fund and awareness raising event for the Food Bank. With listener support Ozarks Food Harvest hopes to surpass the dollars raised with Hungerthon 2005, a record breaking $77,000, and spread awareness about the growing issue of hunger in Southwest Missouri and North Central Arkansas.
• “Strike Out Hunger” with the Springfield Cardinals — June 10 and 11 American Family and the Springfield Cardinals are asking baseball fans to bring non-perishable food or monetary donations for Ozarks Food Harvest to the Springfield Cardinals games on June 10 and 11 in recognition of National Hunger Awareness Week. Kraft Foods and Dillons have each donated a pallet of food to kick the food drive off. Additionally, American Family Insurance offices across the Ozarks are competing to see who can gather the most food donations; the winner will throw the opening pitch at the 6:10 PM game on Saturday.
• National Hunger Awareness Day – Proclamation from Mayor–Tom Carlson has proclaimed the week of June 5 as National Hunger Awareness Week in honor National Hunger Awareness Day June 6.
• Interfaith Convocation Service — June 5  America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network, will hold an Interfaith Convocation Service June 5, 2006, the eve of National Hunger Awareness Day, at the Washington National Cathedral.

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To learn more, contact Lindsey Neddenriep at (417) 865-3411.