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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Springfield Public Schools students and partnering organizations broke their Food Fight record by collecting over 83,000 meals in February and March as part of the 15th annual competition to benefit Ozarks Food Harvest.

This year’s Food Fight involved 38 SPS schools and two administrative offices. With support from partnering organizations, they spent two weeks competing to collect the most food and funds for The Food Bank. The food donations will be distributed across Ozarks Food Harvest’s 28-county service area, while the collected funds will help provide meals for 63 students through the Weekend Backpack Program for an entire school year.

The 2026 winners are Fulbright Early Childhood Center and their partner Rapid Robert’s on Battlefield, Bissett Elementary and their partner Olsson, Cowden Elementary and their partner Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Boyd Elementary and their partner Oasis Hotel and Convention Center, Disney Elementary and their partner Mid-Missouri Bank on Independence, McGregor Elementary and their partner Keep Supply, Hickory Hills K-8 and their partner KCI, Pipkin Middle School and their partner Penmac Staffing and Study High School.

“By partnering with Ozarks Food Harvest, we’ve been able to strengthen how we support our families, creating a community of care that extends well beyond the classroom,” said Jessica Blake, coordinator of community relations for Springfield Public Schools. “Their continued generosity is essential to the well-being of our students.”

The previous record was set in 2019 when SPS students collected more than 67,000 meals for The Food Bank. Since the competition began in 2011, SPS students and partners have provided over 562,000 meals for children, families and seniors in Ozarks Food Harvest’s service area.

“We were thrilled to work with Springfield Public Schools, presenting sponsor Rapid Roberts and other partnering organizations across Springfield for Food Fight,” said Bart Brown, president and CEO at Ozarks Food Harvest. “These meals will help ensure our neighbors facing hunger have nutritious food to put on the table in the coming months.”

Area businesses and nonprofits partnered with schools to serve as collection points. Partners included Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Awakening Church of God, Battlefield Fire Protection, Central Assembly, Chick-fil-A – 3883 W. Sunshine, Educational Community Credit Union, First Watch – National, First Watch – Sunshine, Gailey’s Breakfast Café, KCI, Keep Supply, Little Caesars – Kearney, Little Caesars – Republic and Golden, Little Caesars –S. Glenstone, Little Caesars — S. Scenic, Local Bevy, Mama Jean’s — E. Sunshine, Mama Jean’s — East Republic, Mama Jean’s — W. Sunshine, Messiah Lutheran Church, Mid Missouri Bank — S. Campbell, Mid-Missouri Bank — E. Sunshine, Mid-Missouri Bank – Independence, Oasis Hotel and Convention Center, Olsson, Penmac Staffing, Rapid Robert’s — 1402 E. Republic, Rapid Robert’s — 3106 Battlefield, Rapid Robert’s — 3165 N. Glenstone.

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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 over 90,000 individuals monthly and provides more than 23 million meals annually. Learn more at ozarksfoodharvest.org, facebook.com/ozarksfoodharvest or instagram.com/ozarksfoodharvest.