The need for food assistance is rising, and with increased demand comes increased pressure on the hunger-relief network. Right now, a perfect storm of high food, housing and childcare costs mean more of our neighbors need help to get back on their feet, but keeping up with demand requires creative solutions and change. For Crosslines food pantry in Springfield, their major change is making a big impact on the community.
Thanks to supporters like you, Ozarks Food Harvest provided 20 million meals through our network of faith-based and community charities across a third of the state of Missouri in the past year.
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.