Greetings from the O’Reilly Center for Hunger Relief!
Our elected state and federal representatives are making decisions every day that affect our way of life and well-being.
As supporters of Ozarks Food Harvest, I believe it is our responsibility to stand up against proposed changes that would make it harder for our neighbors to get the food assistance they desperately need. Access to food should be a right of all Americans.
One in four children in the Ozarks are at risk of going hungry
Thousands of children living right here in the Ozarks have a secret — they are hungry.
Some of these kids are hungry every day, and some might experience it only on the weekends of the school year or when they aren’t in summer programs. But for the one in four kids facing this struggle, it is a painful reality.
For the sixth year, Arvest Bank held its annual 1 Million Meals campaign to raise food and funds for local people who struggle with hunger. This year’s campaign at the Springfield and Nixa branches collected $3,125 and 1,662 pounds of food for Ozarks Food Harvest. The bank branch in Monett donated $447 to support its town’s Weekend Backpack Program.
Walmart’s nationwide Fight Hunger. Spark Change. initiative provided over $17 million to Feeding America food banks across the country. Ozarks Food Harvest was awarded $114,368 to fight hunger right here in the Ozarks.
Ozarks Food Harvest earned a 100 percent rating last week from Charity Navigator, the leading evaluator of nonprofits in the nation. It was one of only 49 among the more than 8,000 nonprofits evaluated across the country, and the only charity in Missouri, to receive this honor.
Two months ago, Arvest Bank launched its annual 1 Million Meals initiative to fight hunger in the four-state region the bank serves. The bank announced today that, with the help of customers and community members, it has exceeded the campaign goal by raising a total of 1,712,601 meals in the fight against hunger.
Hilton Garden Inn employees are committed to helping their neighbors in need and keeping Springfield clean by volunteering to support multiple causes in the community.
Every month, Hilton staff sort and pack food at Ozarks Food Harvest, volunteer at a local children’s shelter or work to keep a portion of a Springfield highway and stream clean.
One in four children in the Ozarks may not know where their next meal will come from.
Fortunately, Ozarks Food Harvest is committed to solving this harsh reality.
Because of the incredible support from our donors, we provide kids with food through the Weekend Backpack Program serving 1,600 kids each week in 52 Springfield and rural schools.
Each week, the neighbors surrounding Weller Community Church come together to provide fresh produce for people to take home to their families.
When Ozarks Food Harvest’s truck arrives at the Springfield church to drop off the produce, volunteers Emily and Ericka work with others sorting the fruits and vegetables to prepare for the day’s distribution.
Greetings from the O’Reilly Center for Hunger Relief!
Each spring, the team at Ozarks Food Harvest produces an honor roll of donors and annual report that highlights the great work made possible by the many loyal supporters of The Food Bank.
I’ll share with you just some of the highlights that I enjoyed reading, but please pick up a copy of your own at Ozarks Food Harvest or read it online.