Volunteer and master crafter Margene Terrill made 32 quilts during the pandemic, many of which she gave away. But her desire to help others extends beyond donating her comfy creations. She has also donated more than 320 hours of her time to The Food Bank.
Springfield-Greene County Park Board’s annual Splash & Sizzle event provides pool-goers with the opportunity to fight hunger and relax in the sun. From May 31 through Sept. 6, admission to all outdoor pools is $1 or free with one canned food item per person every day between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
When one door closes, another opens—and that was certainly the case for volunteer Dave Lappin. After Dave was laid off from his graphic design job at the beginning of the pandemic, he began pursuing freelance work. With some extra time on his hands, he started looking for volunteer opportunities in the community.
Each month, Crosslines of McDonald County provides food, clothing and household items to families that need a little extra help. As the only food pantry in the county, Crosslines serves between 1,000 and 1,300 people each month.
The team at Agape House in Mountain View is passionate about serving domestic violence survivors. The organization’s facilities in northern Howell County and southern Texas County both provide emergency shelter and outreach services, food, clothing, crisis intervention, support group activities, life skills classes and so much more.
Each year, Ozarks Food Harvest works closely with a variety of partners throughout the community to raise awareness and funds for hunger relief. The generosity of these local foundations, corporations, businesses, volunteers and individuals is critical to building and maintaining food security in southwest Missouri.
What a year it has been! COVID-19 presented a complex economic crisis unlike anything we’ve seen since the Great Depression, and I am so thankful that we’re finally able to see hope on the horizon.
It’s hard to believe we’ve been living in pandemic-mode for an entire year. As COVID-19 took hold last spring, none of us knew what to expect. I’m extremely thankful that as soon as the impacts of this virus began to present themselves, Ozarks Food Harvest instantly jumped into action to provide more meals.