SPS to raise awareness of hunger during Food Fight
Springfield Public Schools will participate in Food Fight, Ozarks Food Harvest’s 12th annual district-wide fund and food drive competition March 20-31.
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Howell County Hunger Heroes: West Plains First Baptist Church
West Plains First Baptist Church is fully engaged in sharing hope with its community. They have a number of community outreach programs to help neighbors in need in Howell County, including a food pantry that serves about 600 people a month.
Lent Fish Drive 2023
This Lenten season, help support families facing hunger by hosting a fish-themed food drive.
Tiny Steps Toward a Better World
Mary Keidle makes the most of her retirement – hiking, kayaking, fishing, woodworking, gardening, playing the hand bells at church, and enjoying hot air balloon rides. She even learned the Japanese art form of kintsugi during her retirement. Kintsugi is the beautiful practice of restoring broken pottery with precious metals, making it more attractive than it was originally.
Center City Christian Outreach: Hope in the Heart of Town
“We had a family with three children coming in for the sack lunches we provide every afternoon. The father had lost his job during COVID, so they were all living in his pick-up truck with a camper shell. They came in for the meal, but we connected them with some resources. We helped them find housing and work.” That was the moment when Sheila Planer realized her work with Center City Christian Outreach was making a difference.
Health Science Academy’s Hard-Working Helpers
The Health Science Academy has a unique way of educating its students. Every year, Springfield Public Schools partners with Mercy Hospital to educate 8th grade students in health and medical sciences and introduces them to career opportunities. “These kids are very ‘help-oriented’,” says Ryan O’Dell, the Health Science Academy teacher, “They’ve been bugging me all week to come to The Food Bank today.”
Tax Credits for Giving!
Ozarks Food Harvest is once again the recipient of Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) tax credits from the State of Missouri. NAP tax credits are available to any individual or business with State of Missouri business income, who has also made an unrestricted charitable donation to Ozarks Food Harvest.
Year-End Donations and NAP Credits
I am thankful for every gift we receive from our generous donors throughout the year. These gifts provide so much more than food – they also give hope to families facing difficult situations. Right now, with the lingering effects of the pandemic on our economy, year-end gifts are more important to hunger relief than ever.
Four-Star Commitment
For the 11th year in a row, Ozarks Food Harvest has earned the highest rating of 4 out of 4 possible stars from Charity Navigator, the world’s largest and most trusted nonprofit evaluator of charities. Our rating is especially meaningful this year because it means I can assure you that during this time of high inflation, increased costs and soaring demand for assistance, you’re contributing to one of the most effective hunger-relief charities in the nation.
How We Come Together to Address Hunger
On September 28th, the White House held The Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health – the first event of its kind in more than 50 years. The conference of policymakers, business leaders, health activists, and medical professionals came at a time of steep inflation and rising food prices. The Biden-Harris administration released an ambitious national goal to end hunger by 2030.