Our ongoing response to COVID-19
While addressing the immediate, urgent needs of our 28-county service area, Ozarks Food Harvest is also looking toward the future and the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 crisis.
While addressing the immediate, urgent needs of our 28-county service area, Ozarks Food Harvest is also looking toward the future and the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 crisis.
Since its opening in 1998, The Help Center has continuously grown. The pantry started in a church basement and now services about 950 families each month.
In March, we made the difficult decision to suspend volunteer sessions until further notice. Thanks to a grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health, we were able to hire 30 temporary employees through Penmac Staffing. All of these Hunger Heroes were displaced from their previous jobs due to COVID-19, and they have served The Food Bank with so much compassion over the past few months.
Walmart and Sam’s Club stores are supporting local food banks in the midst of COVID-19 through the annual Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign through the end of May.
Join The Food Bank for #GivingTuesdayNow, a new global day of giving and unity focused on responding to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19.
Right now, more families than ever before are experiencing hunger. Thousands of people in the Ozarks have lost their jobs. Parents are struggling to feed their children without the security of school meals. It’s a time of fear and uncertainty for so many.
For many years, Kirsten has had difficulties providing healthy, nourishing food for her growing children. She’s dealt with homelessness, couch-surfing, and hunger. Several months ago, when she had nowhere else to turn, Kirsten and her kids started living in the emergency shelter at Nevada Community Outreach Center.
Ozarks Food Harvest has been closely monitoring the evolving COVID-19 spread. We are constantly looking for and following best practices recommended by the CDC, Springfield-Greene County Health Department and Feeding America.
Winona Assembly of God has only partnered with Ozarks Food Harvest for three years, but this distribution site has made a world of difference for seniors struggling with hunger in Shannon County.
I would like to remind you that Ozarks Food Harvest is eligible to accept gifts from donor-advised funds.