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.
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.
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.
“The biggest thing we want to do is bring hope to people,” shared Michele Dean, the executive director of Christian Action Ministries (CAM) in Branson – and they work very hard to do just that.
Take a moment to give back in the midst of the holiday season during #GivingTuesday!
One in five children and one in six adults in the Ozarks are food insecure, meaning they aren’t sure where their next meal will come from, and even more families are facing food insecurities because of inflation and high food prices.
Your gift this #GivingTuesday can make a huge difference for your neighbors who might not be able to put a meal on the family table this holiday season.
Your donation will make a big difference, as one dollar can help provide four meals. Help us reach our $60,000 goal by making a donation through our website or on Facebook on Tuesday, Nov. 29. Donations up to $15,000 will be doubled, thanks to a match from A-1 Guarantee Roofing, American National and Feeding Missouri.
Thank you for helping us support families across the Ozarks!
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Cali Pettijohn has a fascinating job. Since 2008, she’s been immersing students from other countries in the American experience and teaching them English. She works for Missouri State University’s English Language Institute, and her students recently volunteered with Ozarks Food Harvest.
This summer, Wesley United Methodist Church reached a 4,000 volunteer-hours milestone. It is the largest amount of volunteered time a group has ever given at Ozarks Food Harvest.
This school year, a great benefit available to all students for the past two years isn’t there – free breakfast and lunch.
For the first time in two years, the need for food assistance has spiked back to pandemic levels highs because of the lingering effects of COVID-19. Now, families, businesses, and charities across the Ozarks suffer from inflation, high food prices, and the increased cost of living.
Ozarks Food Harvest took several opportunities to invest in our community over the past fiscal year, which ran from July 2021 to June 2022. I want to take a moment to reflect on what we were able to accomplish with your partnership.