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Being a teenager is complicated. They’re figuring out who they are, how they fit in and what it means to be responsible. It’s a lot of pressure for someone who’s never been a teenager before, but imagine trying to figure it out without a safe place or enough food to feel your best.

This summer, Ozarks Food Harvest is partnering with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield’s new Risdal Family Teen Center to make sure teens have a place to gather that’s just for them – a space to explore new opportunities, feel included, and look forward to nourishing meals no matter what’s going on in their lives. After opening its doors in August 2025, the Teen Center is now open for its first full summer.

Teen food insecurity is often overlooked for several reasons, such as hiding signs of hunger to fit in or avoid stigma. Assistance programs are usually geared toward younger children and adults, and teens may not know which resources apply to them. The Teen Center is designed to focus solely on middle and high school students so they don’t fall through the cracks.

“The Teen Center is a safe space for our members to come and express themselves however they please,” said Chef Ryan, the TeenCenter’s food service coordinator. He plans and prepares the meals that kids can count on every time they visit. “I think some [teens] might go home and not be able to eat dinner sometimes, or sometimes they don’t get a very healthy dinner. I think having food that is delicious is a very important thing.”

That’s why Chef Ryan is intentional about the meals he serves each day. When planning menus, Ryan considers both nutrition and taste so teens can enjoy their meals while getting the nutrients they need. He also makes sure to introduce Club members to foods they’ve never tried before, like jambalaya, gyros and a Mexican soup which one Club member described to Ozarks Food Harvest staff as “like, the best thing I’ve ever eaten.”

That same Club member, Emma, and her friend Izzy said they believe food insecurity is a big issue among teens and have seen it in some of their peers. Izzy shared, “I think [Teen Center meals] are really helpful because not everyone gets the chance to have dinner or snacks, so I think it’s a really good opportunity for a lot of kids.”

Emma agreed, explaining, “A lot of people don’t usually get a meal after school. In the summer, if they can’t come here, they wouldn’t have food at all.”

Since the Teen Center opened 11 months ago, they’ve already impacted hundreds of lives with resources like mental and physical healthcare, dance and podcast studios, student leadership groups and, of course, food. Ozarks Food Harvest’s role is to help provide free and affordable foods so the Teen Center can stretch their budget and focus on lifting up Springfield teens like Emma and Izzy.

“Boys & Girls Club helped me a lot to find my voice,” Emma said. “If you told me to talk to you guys freshman year, I would have run to the closet and hid. But with public speaking and being a leader and being a very outgoing and social person, I think the Club has taught me how to do all of that.”

Ozarks Food Harvest is proud to partner with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield and their new Risdal Family Teen Center to keep teens’ bodies and minds nourished. Thank you to everyone who helps us end summer hunger in the Ozarks.

Note: The teens featured in this story are identified by pseudonyms at their request to protect their privacy.