For more than 50 years, Feeding America food banks have been providing meals to neighbors in need and working to raise awareness about hunger. Yet it wasn’t until the pandemic, when so many lost their jobs, that hunger became a top issue for America: the government held a conference to address it, food banks topped charity lists for the first time, and need for food assistance spiked across the country.
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.
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.
Greetings from the O’Reilly Center for Hunger Relief!
As supporters of Ozarks Food Harvest, we know about the urgent and daily needs of the people in our community who struggle with hunger. It’s heartbreaking and oftentimes unimaginable. For those of us who don’t have to make hard choices between paying for food and other basic necessities, understanding what this might feel like can be difficult.
Greetings from the O’Reilly Center for Hunger Relief!
Each year, Americans throw away billions of pounds of food. Up to 40 percent of all food grown, processed and transported in the U.S. will never be consumed.
With one in four people in the Ozarks accessing food assistance, it’s hard to understand how so many people can be hungry, yet so much perfectly edible food is never ending up on dinner plates.
Greetings from the O’Reilly Center for Hunger Relief!
Along with my friends at Ozarks Food Harvest, I want to share how pleased I am to be a part of the Ending Hunger, Building Hope capital campaign. This is an opportunity for important growth to meet the needs of the men, women and children in southwest Missouri who struggle with the harsh reality of hunger.
More than 10 years ago I became involved with the original capital campaign to build Ozarks Food Harvest’s current facility. My family and I realized the great need for a larger food bank with more space to accept and process donations and better equipment to serve the need. With this in mind, my family made a gift to support that critical campaign.
Happy Holidays from the O’Reilly Center for Hunger Relief!
It’s hard to believe another year is almost over. As we reflect on what we’re grateful for throughout this holiday season, I hope that you and your family are blessed with a roof over your head, clothes on your back, food on your plate and the love of family and friends.
Greetings from the O’Reilly Center for Hunger Relief!
You may remember I wrote in last summer’s Harvest Time about the need for a strong Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act to be passed by Congress.
Unfortunately, that legislation has yet to be passed more than a year later, and a new provision added by the House would hurt hungry kids.
Greetings from the O’Reilly Center for Hunger Relief!
Our elected state and federal representatives are making decisions every day that affect our way of life and well-being.
As supporters of Ozarks Food Harvest, I believe it is our responsibility to stand up against proposed changes that would make it harder for our neighbors to get the food assistance they desperately need. Access to food should be a right of all Americans.
Happy Holidays from the O’Reilly Center for Hunger Relief!
I’m sure many of you would agree that the Ozarks is a special place to call home. The willingness to work together to better the community and a genuine concern for others are some of the things I value most.
This fall, a report card highlighting the strengths — blue ribbons — and challenges — red flags — in Springfield and Greene County was released. Although we received many high marks in areas like collaboration, community revitalization and awareness of civic responsibility, poverty continues to be widespread among our neighbors.
According to the report, Springfield recently surpassed St. Louis to become the city in Missouri with the highest percentage of families in poverty.