Ozarks Food Harvest is experiencing a higher demand for food assistance than during the height of the pandemic. In the past six months, we’ve served an average 60,000 individuals each month; 10,000 more than during the same period in 2020 and 2021. As many working families struggle to get back on their feet, they’ve encountered a perfect storm of increased childcare costs, high housing prices and rising food expenses.
Of the people served by Ozarks Food Harvest’s hunger-relief network, one-third live in a household with children. So many of these children rely on nutritious school meals that help them learn, grow, and play, but what happens when school lets out for the summer?
Ozarks Food Harvest’s monthly donors play a critical role in meeting the needs of our neighbors facing hunger. While every donation makes an impact, consistent monthly giving through our Harvest Circle Program allows The Food Bank to plan ahead and respond to immediate needs.
In May 2011, an unforgettable EF5 tornado struck the city of Joplin. With thousands of buildings destroyed and infrastructure impacted, families lost access to housing and crucial resources for weeks. The destruction and devastation caused by the storm was so historic that it garnered national attention. Residents, organizations, and churches stepped up to lend their neighbors a much needed hand, and from the aftermath of the storm, Mission Joplin was founded.
At Ozarks Food Harvest, our mission is to Transform Hunger into Hope in the Ozarks, because no one should have to wonder where their next meal is coming from. Food is a basic human need that helps us feel steady. For one of our partner charities, COPE, two more basic needs require urgent attention: safety and security.
