Temperatures were below freezing at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (SEAS) Catholic Church’s monthly food distribution in January. Days like those are hard work for the entirely volunteer-run distribution team, but volunteers say it’s worth it to help their neighbors facing hunger.
At Ozarks Food Harvest, volunteers help us sort, pack and harvest 100,000 pounds of food each week. Just one volunteer can provide more than 300 meals in three hours, and a group afternoon session can ensure hundreds of children have a Weekend Backpack to take home. That’s how our volunteer Amanda realized she cared about ending hunger – because her time makes a big impact at The Food Bank.
What do travel and volunteering have in common? Alex Brozowski from Expedia sums it up like this, “Travel lets us see how, at the end of the day, we all have the same basic needs.” And what need is more basic than food? During Expedia’s Month of Caring in September, employees made the connection by volunteering to pack food at Ozarks Food Harvest.
Lundie Cavazos, center lead at the Montgomery Senior Center, says she has two main concerns when serving seniors: Proper nutrition and good mental health. In a rural town like Buffalo, Missouri, the senior center helps with both through nourishing meals and nourishing community.
Norma Faye Jones was two hours late for Christmas.
Born in the early morning hours of December 26, 82-year-old Norma still jokes, “I used to tell my momma, I said, you know the best gifts always come late.” But the gift of food assistance has always come just in time for Norma.
For the 13th year in a row, Ozarks Food Harvest has received a Four-Star Rating – the highest rating possible given to charities – from Charity Navigator. I’m proud to share this news with you because it means that Charity Navigator, America’s largest and most utilized independent charity evaluator, recognizes The Food Bank as of the most effective hunger-relief charities in the nation.
This holiday season, as you gather with loved ones to share meals and create cherished memories, consider investing in Ozarks Food Harvest. This act of generosity can make a profound difference in the lives of families facing hunger in the upcoming year.
For over a year, many of our hardworking neighbors have endured high costs of food and basic necessities with little relief. Now as we enter the winter months, families facing hunger are at their breaking point during the most challenging time of year.
Anna has a skill that’s not too common these days, and it’s helping her family keep food in the pantry. She knows how to can her own food. Growing up, Anna remembers watching her grandmother home-can food, preserving the freshness of their fruits and vegetables so that nothing went to waste. Anna always wanted to learn, but it wasn’t until recently that she finally taught herself the skill. Now, she’s using her knowledge not only as a fulfilling hobby, but a way to provide for her family when times are tough.
Pam Moffitt has a lot of empathy for the neighbors she’s helping by volunteering at Ozarks Food Harvest. When asked why she donates her time, Pam answered, “Because myself and my husband have experienced hunger. We’ve had empty cupboards, and we’ve had to make the decision between diapers and food for ourselves. We’ve been given food boxes, and that’s what helped us survive.”