It’s almost time to put our noses on to help end child poverty. On May 24, people around the world will come together to raise money for kids who need it most. In three years, the program has raised over $100 million and changed the lives of over eight million children across the globe.
Each year, Arvest Bank challenges bank associates, customers and community members to participate in raising funds and food donations to help feed neighbors in need.
Supporters step up to meet the Mabee Challenge Grant.
Ozarks Food Harvest donors helped us meet a $700,000 J.E. & L.E. Mabee Foundation Challenge Grant. These funds will go toward building our 56,000-foot expansion.
Area Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts are true Hunger Heroes. For the past 29 years, the Scouts have been collecting food during their Scouting for Food drive, and this year they will do it again.
Exciting news at The Food Bank as we announce our newest retail partnership with Springfield’s latest organic grocery store, Lucky’s Market, which opened on Wednesday, Jan. 10.
Without help from her local food pantry, Beth, a mother of two from rural Barton County, said she doesn’t know how she’d get through the holidays.
“We cut costs every possible way we can think of,” she said. “My husband works, but it’s not enough income for a family of four, and childcare costs a lot so we chose for me to not work.”
Beth said the holidays can be hard with Thanksgiving and Christmas meals to plan for, as well as figuring out how she will afford presents for her daughter, Dominique, and son, Titus.
Kum & Go and Ozarks Food Harvest are partnering for a new food rescue program that began this fall. As the newest Retail Pick-Up partner, Kum & Go donates safe, prepared excess food to Ozarks Food Harvest’s partner agencies.
Items donated include breakfast sandwiches, hot and cold lunch sandwiches, salad and produce, fresh packaged bread and bakery items.
“As we continue to look for ways to reduce waste, help our communities and tackle hunger close to home, we are excited to get the program up and running,” said Derek Nelson, sustainability manager for Kum & Go.
This year marks the eighth time the Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program has awarded a pass-through grant to Ozarks Food Harvest to provide funding for its member pantries and programs.
Walmart’s gift of $125,000 in grants was divided among 66 member agencies selected by The Food Bank. Because of the power of this matching grant, the total impact will be $250,000. Agencies have until February to raise the matching funds.
The Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program supports organizations, like Ozarks Food Harvest, that create opportunities so people can live better, awarding grants that have a long-lasting, positive impact on communities across the U.S.
Ameriprise Financial employees strive every day to provide their clients with the best financial advice. Their company values respect for individuals and the communities in which they are a part of. Employees live out this value by donating time as volunteers.
Twice a year, Ameriprise Financial organizes a company-wide National Day of Service to help those in need. In 2016, 14,000 employees participated in this campaign and donated 81,000 hours of time.
Ozarks Food Harvest’s Glean Team had another successful growing season this year.
Thanks to the continued hard work from volunteers, 29,633 pounds of locally-grown produce was harvested. The Plant a Row for the Hungry initiative also brought in 20,916 pounds of fresh produce, leaving the Full Circle Gardens program total at 50,549 pounds this season. Ozarks Food Harvest could not have done it without the help from compassionate volunteers and partners!