The holiday season is a difficult time for many seniors throughout the Ozarks. Too often they spend the season alone because they do not have family to celebrate with.
Thankfully, many of Ozarks Food Harvest’s partnering senior centers planned special activities throughout the holidays to ensure their clients felt loved and appreciated.
Missouri State University student Juan Trujillo started volunteering at Ozarks Food Harvest as part of a scholarship requirement, but came to truly enjoy giving back.
“Everybody likes to do stuff for themselves, but once you do something for someone else it’s easier to see the high priority of volunteering,” Trujillo shared.
As we approach the New Year at Ozarks Food Harvest, I am thankful for the loyalty and hard work our donors and volunteers continue to show.
With the help of our large family of supporters, we have accomplished a lot this year.
We saw a dramatic increase in the number of volunteers at The Food Bank and several community events drew first-time donors to help their neighbors in need.
Unfortunately, many children, families and seniors in our community still do not know where their next meal will come from.
Happy Holidays from the O’Reilly Center for Hunger Relief!
I’m sure many of you would agree that the Ozarks is a special place to call home. The willingness to work together to better the community and a genuine concern for others are some of the things I value most.
This fall, a report card highlighting the strengths — blue ribbons — and challenges — red flags — in Springfield and Greene County was released. Although we received many high marks in areas like collaboration, community revitalization and awareness of civic responsibility, poverty continues to be widespread among our neighbors.
According to the report, Springfield recently surpassed St. Louis to become the city in Missouri with the highest percentage of families in poverty.
Donated produce, meats feed families this holiday season
For Alice and her family, People Helping People in Republic has been a lifesaver.
“There’s been times that my husband has been laid off or we’re short of income,” the 32-year-old shared. “Times are hard … but then there are resources like this.”
I am honored to announce that last month I was named this year’s Outstanding Fundraising Professional by the Ozarks Region Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Although I was the one presented this award, it truly belongs to all of us. Your continued generosity is dear to my heart. Without supporters like you, this achievement would not be possible.
SGC Foodservice delivered a truckload of food to Ozarks Food Harvest, thanks to donations provided by its employees, customers and vendors during the Fill the Truck fundraiser.
Proceeds from the fundraiser were used to purchase child-friendly and shelf-stable food items including cereal, fruit juices and easy-open cans of vegetable soup to support The Food Bank’s Weekend Backpack Program.
In today’s world, where many of us are working ourselves to the bone to buy the dream home, fancy cars and materialistic things, we often come up stressed and empty. Often, the pursuit of the dollar doesn’t bring true joy and peace. Maybe we can learn something from Pastor John as he shows us that having a purpose to help others is more fulfilling than anything money can buy.
“My wife and I had been pastoring and working in our denomination’s headquarters for more than 25 years when I felt God pulling me back to the front lines. Where light meets dark. It was a huge step of faith and it changed everything – for the good.
Ozarks Food Harvest’s Glean Team wrapped up its second season in November — harvesting 20,358 pounds of produce.
Volunteers spent over 1,400 hours working in area gardens to provide nearly 17,000 meals to hungry individuals in the Ozarks.
Today, Cortez Villanueva is in the business of feeding hungry souls. Every Sunday morning, the 47-year-old man can be found in the kitchen at Ozarks Food Harvest member agency Crimson House Ministries stirring pots, baking biscuits and frying meats to feed the homeless who gather around Commercial Street. But 25 years ago, his life revolved around a different hunger game – drugs. Marijuana and crack cocaine were the “food” he was feeding to hungry addicts until he was arrested and sent to prison, serving 17 of a 20-year sentence.