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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Springfield Public Schools students and partnering organizations collected nearly 57,000 meals in March and April as part of the 13th annual Food Fight competition to benefit Ozarks Food Harvest.

This year’s Food Fight had 43 SPS schools and four administrative offices, with support from partnering organizations, spend two weeks competing to collect the most food and fund donations for The Food Bank. The food donations will be distributed across Ozarks Food Harvest’s 28-county service area and collected funds will sponsor nearly 40 children for a full school year of Weekend Backpack Program meals.

The winners of this year’s Food Fight were Study High School, Reed Academy, Pleasant View, Cowden Elementary, Horace Mann Elementary, Robberson Elementary, Wilder Elementary, York Elementary and Fulbright ECC.

“I’m proud of the generosity of our students and staff that worked hard to raise these meals for our neighbors facing hunger,” said Dr. Ron Woodard, director of family support services for Springfield Public Schools. “I look forward to the opportunity to continue lifting up our students and neighbors through our partnership with Ozarks Food Harvest.”

Since the competition began in 2011, SPS students and partners have provided more than 478,000 meals for children, families and seniors served by The Food Bank.

“We’re so proud to work with Springfield Public Schools, presenting sponsor Rapid Roberts and other partnering organizations across Springfield for Food Fight,” said Bart Brown, president/CEO at Ozarks Food Harvest. “These meals will go a long way towards helping the 1 in 5 children and 1 in 6 adults who face hunger here in the Ozarks.”

Area businesses and nonprofits partnered with schools to serve as collection points. Partners included Alamo Drafthouse, Battlefield Fire Protection, Doubletree by Hilton Inn, Great Southern Bank, Little Caesars, Local Bevy, Mama Jeans, Mid-Missouri Bank, My Salon Studios, Oasis Hotel and Convention Center, Penmac Staffing and Rapid Roberts.

Pictured: York Elementary School students accepting traveling Food Fight trophy.

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About Ozarks Food Harvest — The Food Bank
Ozarks Food Harvest is the Feeding America food bank for southwest Missouri, serving 270 faith-based and community charities across a third of Missouri. The Food Bank reaches 70,000 individuals monthly and provides more than 20 million meals annually. Learn more at ozarksfoodharvest.org, facebook.com/ozarksfoodharvest or instagram.com/ozarksfoodharvest.