Ozarks Food Harvest’s Hungerthon raises $253,000 for children facing hunger
The 27th annual Hungerthon hosted by Ozarks Food Harvest and iHeartRadio Springfield wrapped up Monday afternoon, raising a total of $253,609 for Ozarks Food Harvest’s Weekend Backpack Program. These funds will provide weekend meals for 704 kids in southwest Missouri.
Over the weekend, listeners tuned in to donate and support the Weekend Backpack Program. The Weekend Backpack Program provides six nutritious meals in addition to drinks and snacks to children across nearly 60 schools in 15 counties across the Ozarks each weekend of the school year. In southwest Missouri, 1 in 5 children face hunger, making weekends when school meals aren’t available especially challenging.
“We’re always excited to partner with iHeartRadio for Hungerthon and raise money for the Weekend Backpack Program,” said Bart Brown, Ozarks Food Harvest’s president and CEO. “I’m thankful to everyone who tuned in and donated during Hungerthon to make sure children facing hunger in the Ozarks have nutritious meals each weekend of the school year.”
“I continue to be blown away by the generosity in our community. I hope that each listener who heard the Hungerthon message and donated knows just how profound and important their impact is on the children in southwest Missouri. They have provided more than just food for these kids. They have provided hope,” said Clint “Girlie” Gerlek, VP of programming for iHeartRadio and Hungerthon host.
Last year, Hungerthon raised over $252,000 — enough to provide more than 700 children facing hunger with six nutritious meals, as well as drinks and snacks, every weekend of the school year. Since 1999, Hungerthon has raised $3.6 million to provide 2.5 million meals to children in southwest Missouri.
Businesses, individuals and foundations matched listeners’ contributions including A-1 Guarantee Roofing, Arvest Bank, Associated Electric Coop. Inc., Bank of Missouri, Chase, CoxHealth, Dynamics Gymnastics, Fireworks Supermarket, French’s, Great Southern Bank, Grip N’ Rip Baseball, Harter House – Hollister, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 453, McDonald’s, McKowen Family Dentistry, Mid-Missouri Bank, Peck’s Insurance & Financial Services, Positronic, Pyramid Battery, Ross Construction Group, SRC Community Relations Committee, Stomp the Blues out of Homelessness, Vital Farms, and Yahweh’s Place at Cedarville.
Community members who were unable to participate in Hungerthon, but still wish to donate, can make donations towards the Weekend Backpack Program securely online at ozarksfoodharvest.org/donate/hungerthon.