Springfield Food Day Harvest Party collecting donations for OFH
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Springfield Food Day organizers are asking community members to donate nonperishable food items for Ozarks Food Harvest at the Harvest Party at Farmers Park on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 5 to 9 p.m.
The event, a grand finale celebration of the local Food Day event series culmination, is free to attend, and food and beverage tickets available for $1 each. Those who shop at the Farmers Market of the Ozarks earlier on Saturday will receive a Food Day sticker, which allows them to receive a free food and beverage ticket for the Harvest Party.
Ozarks Food Harvest volunteers will accept food items at a donation booth under the pavilion. Items requested include those rich in protein such as canned tuna or peanut butter. The Food Bank also requests canned fruits and vegetables, canned soups and stews and other boxed meals. No sugar-added applesauce and items low in sodium are also needed.
The party will reflect on the summer and fall events and honor nominated farmers and a Food Day Hero with awards. A grand prize will also be awarded to the community member who attended the most events throughout the summer and fall months. Those who attended at least four Food Day events will receive five free food and beverage tickets.
National Food Day Celebration is a grassroots, healthy food campaign to teach Americans about healthy food choices and to change food policies. Across the country, the celebration takes place on October 24, but in Springfield, the Food Day Celebration was four months long, beginning in July and ending Saturday. The celebration is a part of the local non-profit organization FoodCORE, and some of its sponsors are the Healthy Living Alliance and CoxHealth.
Learn more at www.fooddaycelebration.org or www.foodday.org.
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About Ozarks Food Harvest—The Food Bank
Ozarks Food Harvest is the Feeding America food bank for southwest Missouri, serving more than 200 organizations across 28 Ozarks counties. The Food Bank distributes 10 million meals annually to 170,000 unduplicated individuals. OFH celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2013. Learn more at ozarksfoodharvest.org, facebook.com/ozarksfoodharvest or twitter.com/ozksfoodharvest.