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Ozarks grocers partner to help feed families in need this holiday season

November 13, 2018

20th annual Check Out Hunger campaign for Ozarks Food Harvest runs through Dec. 31

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Seventy-two local grocery stores are teaming up with Ozarks Food Harvest for the 20th annual Check Out Hunger fundraiser this holiday season. The campaign began Sunday and continues until Dec. 31.

Check Out Hunger gives shoppers the opportunity to add a $1, $3 or $5 tax-free donation to their grocery bill when checking out at area retailers, including Apple Market, Country Mart, Harter House, Hy-Vee, King Cash Saver, Murfin’s Market, Price Chopper, Price Cutter, Price Cutter Plus, Ramey, Rhodes Family Price Chopper, Ruby’s Market, Summer Fresh, Town & Country Supermarket and Woods Supermarket. Every dollar raised through Check Out Hunger will help provide four meals to children, families and seniors struggling with hunger.

Shoppers will know if their local grocer is participating by looking for Check Out Hunger signs in the checkout lanes. When a customer chooses to add a donation to his or her grocery bill, the cashier simply scans the donation barcode, and the donor signs a paper apple for display. The tax-free gift is then added to the bill and appears on the receipt.

“The issue of hunger is a reality for so many of our neighbors here in the Ozarks,” said Bart Brown, president/CEO of Ozarks Food Harvest. “Year after year, we’re so thankful for the generosity shown by local grocers and community members during Check Out Hunger. These donations will help provide food and hope to many people this holiday season.”

More than 261,000 individuals across 28 counties receive food assistance from Ozarks Food Harvest. Many of these individuals are food insecure, meaning they don’t know where their next meal will come from. In southwest Missouri, 1 in 5 children and 1 in 7 adults struggle with food insecurity.

Last year, Check Out Hunger collected more than $50,000 to help provide over 200,000 meals to children, families and seniors in southwest Missouri. Since 1998, the holiday campaign has collected more than $514,000, providing 2.48 million meals.

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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.