This means that when the kids walk into the kitchen I don't have to say, ‘Don't eat that because I don't know when I'm going to be able to buy more food.’Jennifer, age 32
Transforming Hunger into Hope
The Mobile Food Pantry delivers groceries directly to communities lacking either a food pantry or emergency food assistance program nearby. Product is served off of a truck to pre-qualified clients in just a couple of hours. These trucks also travel to counties that have an Ozarks Food Harvest-member pantry, but the partner’s physical facility might have limited storage. Another barrier for those in need is transportation. Many families lack the means of traveling to their nearest food pantry.
25K
People
received meals last year
690K
Meals
were delivered in 12 months across southwest Missouri
7,200
Miles
were traveled across 8 under-served counties
Rolling to the Rescue
Each outreach provides about 7,000 pounds of food and supplies
Established in 2006, each mobile distribution now serves an average of 122 families, or 215 individuals. And because the trucks — donated by Ridewell Suspensions and area Rotary Clubs — are refrigerated, they can quickly distribute nutritious fresh produce and other perishable products before they go to waste. Food items and supplies distributed are both donated and purchased products.
