Hello again from the O’Reilly Center for Hunger Relief!
Nearly two years have passed since the Zone 1 Blitz began in northwest Springfield. During the blitz, over 300 organizations— including Ozarks Food Harvest—committed to help improve the lives of residents in the northwest quadrant of Springfield. Projects included weatherization upgrades for homes, new sidewalk construction, bus stop additions, an expansion of affordable internet access and an increase to food access across Zone 1.
Hunger Action Month will be here before we know it! We have so many events and activities planned to engage the community in the fight against hunger this September.
Throughout the month, Ozarks Food Harvest and other hunger-relief organizations across the country will shed light on food insecurity and how the community can help.
For many kids in the Ozarks, summer is full of worry about an empty refrigerator or pantry.
According to the latest Map the Meal Gap data from Feeding America, 19.6 percent of children in southwest Missouri are food insecure. That amounts to 50,590 kids under the age of 18 that might not know where their next meal will come from.
Many of these children rely on free or reduced-price meals at school throughout the year. But when school closes for the summer, fear and hunger can set in.
For the past five years, members of Wesley United Methodist Church have volunteered in the Ozarks Food Harvest warehouse on the first Tuesday evening of every month.
Every September, food banks, advocacy groups and individuals from across the country unite to fight against hunger. It’s easy to get involved! Throughout the month, The Food Bank has a variety of events planned to help make a difference in southwest Missouri.
Each year, around 2,300 volunteers from businesses and organizations across the Ozarks take time out of their workdays to help more than 100 nonprofits during United Way of the Ozark’s Day of Caring.
Ozarks Food Harvest is partnering with Panera Bread for Empty Bowls 2018. The annual event, set for Sept. 28, raises awareness of hunger in southwest Missouri.
On Saturday, May 12, people in the Ozarks came together to help Stamp out Hunger. To participate, residents placed bags of nonperishable food items near their mailboxes. Throughout the day, letter carriers picked up the bags, organized products and delivered food to Ozarks Food Harvest’s food pantries. Read More
Want to enjoy the city’s best food while supporting Ozarks Food Harvest? Then participate in SoMo Restaurant week, hosted by the Downtown Springfield Association and Ozarks Food Harvest!