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.
If you, or someone you love, are looking for ways to make a difference for future generations, Ozarks Food Harvest offers planned giving opportunities. A planned gift allows you to extend your charitable giving beyond your lifetime and make a difference for families like Ricky and Natalie’s.
I am thankful for every gift we receive from our generous donors throughout the year. These gifts provide so much more than food – they also give hope to families facing difficult situations. Right now, with the lingering effects of the pandemic on our economy, year-end gifts are more important to hunger relief than ever.
For the 11th year in a row, Ozarks Food Harvest has earned the highest rating of 4 out of 4 possible stars from Charity Navigator, the world’s largest and most trusted nonprofit evaluator of charities. Our rating is especially meaningful this year because it means I can assure you that during this time of high inflation, increased costs and soaring demand for assistance, you’re contributing to one of the most effective hunger-relief charities in the nation.
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.
This summer, Wesley United Methodist Church reached a 4,000 volunteer-hours milestone. It is the largest amount of volunteered time a group has ever given at Ozarks Food Harvest.
This school year, a great benefit available to all students for the past two years isn’t there – free breakfast and lunch.
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.
Ozarks Food Harvest took several opportunities to invest in our community over the past fiscal year, which ran from July 2021 to June 2022. I want to take a moment to reflect on what we were able to accomplish with your partnership.
Hunger Action Month is one of the most exciting times of the year at Ozarks Food Harvest. Each September, we work together with local businesses and organizations and ask them to take action against hunger and support the Weekend Backpack Program.