As a friend of Ozarks Food Harvest, you’re aware of the struggles so many of our neighbors face when it comes to providing food for themselves and their families. You’re also aware that when you give to Ozarks Food Harvest, each $1 is making a huge difference for those in need by providing $10 worth of food distribution and services.
The holiday season is a time when many of us think about food more often than the rest of the year. With Thanksgiving dinners and Christmas parties with family and friends, it’s certainly the season of eating.
The folks we provide meals to across the Ozarks are also thinking about food this time of year, and all year long. But unfortunately, thinking about food when hungry leaves our neighbors feeling afraid and anxious.
When you don’t have enough to make ends meet, and food seems out of reach, too many of the people we serve don’t feel they have the ability to buy smart at the grocery store to supplement food from our pantries.
The Annual Billings Antique Classic Tractor Pull is a tradition at the Billings Community Fair. Among the freshly painted antique tractors, bright lights of the Ferris wheel and enticing food carts are community members who care about their hungry neighbors.
For years, Michelle and her two kids lived on just $280 a month.
“There were a lot of times when we didn’t have a whole lot and were just trying to get by,” she said.
Even after qualifying for SNAP, or food stamps, the family still struggled to have enough every month for food. A single mom, Michelle isn’t able to work due to a disability.
Twenty Springfield Public Schools and thirteen community partners battled to win the sixth annual Food Fight food and fund drive benefiting Ozarks Food Harvest.Over 32,000 pounds of food and fund donations were collected.
This year more than 8,300 runners and walkers took part in what has become a Thanksgiving tradition in Springfield.
Back in 1999, Kevin Howard and Liz Delany never imagined a new on-air fundraiser for Ozarks Food Harvest would be a success – let alone raise $1.66 million over the next 18 years.
It is no secret that eggs are a nutritional source of protein.
However, sources of protein continue to remain on Ozarks Food Harvest’s list of most-needed items. For people with allergies, a jar of peanut butter is not an option and meat is not always available.
Join Ozarks Food Harvest’s mission to Transform Hunger into Hope with your gift of time. Individual and group volunteers are needed to sort donations, assemble Weekend Backpacks and build Senior Food boxes.
A passion for helping others drove Amanda Kirkpatrick, a senior at Missouri State University, to major in elementary education.
However, it wasn’t until she volunteered at Ozarks Food Harvest that she realized the scope of what a teacher can do to help make a difference in the lives of students who are hungry.