Media

WHAT:  FLiP Press Conference to announce future of campaign to raise money for Ozarks Food Harvest’s Food for Thought backpack program

WHERE:  United Way of the Ozarks, 320 N. Jefferson, Springfield, Mo.

WHEN:  Monday, October 29, 2007 at 11 a.m.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Female Leaders in Philanthropy (FLiP), a United Way initiative, will hold a press conference to announce the future of the group’s Hunger Hurts Kids campaign to raise money for Ozarks Food Harvest’s Food for Thought backpack program. The news conference will be held at the United Way of the Ozarks building on 320 North Jefferson on Monday, October 29, at 11 a.m.

Food for Thought is one of Ozarks Food Harvest’s children’s programs which provides backpacks filled with nutritious, easy-open foods to at-risk children for the weekends, when they might otherwise go hungry. According to the food bank, more than half the schools in Ozarks Food Harvest’s 29 county service area have free and reduced meal participation rates of 50 percent or greater – some up to 90 percent. The Food for Thought program is available in a total of 26 elementary schools across the Ozarks this school year.

In March, FLIP pledged to support Ozarks Food Harvest’s Food for Thought program to feed needy children in ten Springfield Public Schools. FLIP said the group will raise $210,000 over the next three years.

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