Ozarks Food Harvest and iHeartMedia’s 18th annual radio-thon, Hungerthon, collected a record-breaking $140,447 for the Weekend Backpack Program. The initiative provides 1,668 food insecure children with nutritious food to take home over the weekends, when school meals aren’t available and many kids go hungry.
Artists and community members came together this September for the most successful Empty Bowls yet. The third annual fundraiser held at Panera Bread raised $7,440, selling all 220 handcrafted bowls donated by nearly 60 local artists.
Over 2,000 volunteers from businesses across the Ozarks came together to help more than 100 nonprofit agencies during this year’s United Way Day of Caring.
Ozarks Food Harvest earned a 100 percent rating last week from Charity Navigator, the leading evaluator of nonprofits in the nation. It was one of only 49 among the more than 8,000 nonprofits evaluated across the country, and the only charity in Missouri, to receive this honor.
One in four children in the Ozarks may not know where their next meal will come from.
Fortunately, Ozarks Food Harvest is committed to solving this harsh reality.
Because of the incredible support from our donors, we provide kids with food through the Weekend Backpack Program serving 1,600 kids each week in 52 Springfield and rural schools.
Ozarks Food Harvest’s donors are simply incredible. We could not do what we do without you. Your care for the Ozarks and those who are struggling with hunger is unmatched.
I know that each gift of yourself and your treasure to The Food Bank is a sacrifice. You are choosing to spend your valuable time and hard-earned dollars helping others. I hope you know how thankful we are.
Here at Ozarks Food Harvest, we wanted to learn more about what makes you want to give and why you are concerned for your struggling neighbors.
2.1 million meals served since the 17th annual fundraiser began
Nearly 60 area grocery stores partnered with Ozarks Food Harvest during the holiday season for the 17th annual Check Out Hunger, raising $31,763 for people in need across southwest Missouri.
This year’s campaign provided nearly 159,000 meals to children, families and seniors in the Ozarks.
My dad was a bricklayer, and mom worked front desk jobs. She came home every night to make us dinner and there was always food. I had never been poor or gone without until I found myself in need, in my late 20’s. It opened my eyes to a lot; particularly to something I had never seen.
When my husband Dave returned to school to get his Ph.D. in Physics, back in Arizona, we had three boys. After we had our third child, we were needing more funds. We had food stamps, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), program benefits, and medical assistance due to our low income. Those were a big help, and when we ran out of them, my husband’s parents helped us on a regular basis.
Ozarks Food Harvest’s Glean Team began its third season on March 2 with volunteers preparing garden beds for crops at local community gardens.
Last season, volunteers gave over 1,400 hours planting and harvesting at area gardens and farms to provide nearly 23,000 pounds of fresh produce to children, families and seniors in need right here in the Ozarks.
Ruby Allen grew up understanding the value of working hard — taking care of animals and tending to the garden on her family’s farm in rural Kennett, Missouri.
Today, her hard work continues as she spends many weekdays volunteering to sort food at The Food Bank.