Ozarks Food Harvest

Hunger is an urgent crisis in southwest Missouri.

Here's what Feeding America's latest Map the Meal Gap study shows about hunger in the Ozarks.

As hunger rates remain high and the need for food assistance increases, we'll need the help of our community to help children, families and seniors access food.

Learn more about Map the Meal Gap at FeedingAmerica.org/MaptheMealGap

Learn more about Ozarks Food Harvest at ozarksfoodharvest.org

The school year is about to start, which means our Saturday volunteer sessions are back! We need your help to pack food bags for kids in the Weekend Backpack Program.

Thousands of children in southwest Missouri rely on school meals as their main source of nutrition but don't know if they'll have enough food when they're home for the weekends. Our Weekend Backpack Program sends about 1,800 kids home with a bag of meals and snacks every Friday of the school year so they can stay fueled all weekend long.

Sign up today at https://ozarksfoodharvest.org/how-to-help/volunteer/

Note: These sessions are three hours long with a 15-minute break and require standing and some twisting and bending. Let us know if you have questions at 417-865-3411.

Chic might be trending, but ending child hunger never goes out of style. We’re looking for auction items for the Go Orange Auction this September, which raises funds for our Weekend Backpack Program.

The Weekend Backpack Program provides children facing hunger in the Ozarks with a bag of meals and snacks every weekend of the school year, because no child should have to wonder if they’ll have food on the weekends.

You, your business, or organization can donate items, vouchers, gift baskets, experiences and more to make this event a success. Some examples of items up for bid last year include:
- Tickets to live theatre
- Yoga and spa packages
- Aquarium tickets
- Dance class vouchers
- Art and home decor
- Kansas City Chiefs tickets
- Springfield Cardinals merch
- Gift cards to shops and restaurants
- Jewelry
- Gardening kits
- And more!

To donate auction items (and be totally chic), contact Angi Rowe at [email protected] or call 417-865-3411. We’re hoping to have items collected by August 14th. Thank you for helping us feed kids across southwest Missouri!

Learn more about our Weekend Backpack Program at ozarksfoodharvest.org/programs/backpack

Thank you to everyone who's already donated! We love seeing the community come together.

Hey Greene County residents, join us for a free grocery distribution to stock up on produce, dairy and bakery items on August 15th from 9:30 to 11 a.m.! Please pre-register before the event.

This distribution is for Greene County residents who meet the income guidelines noted in the registration form. Sign up at https://forms.gle/Axq2SrHtcfGxUBqx7

Directions:
From Kearney St., go north on Packer Rd by the MODOT building, then turn left on Jean St and right on Cedarbrook. You'll enter through the gate on Cedarbrook and exit through the gate on Packer.

Drive up, stay in your car, and a volunteer or staff member will handle the rest! Please make sure your trunk is clean and clear.

Give us a call at 417-380-5007 if you have any questions.

Thank you to our friends over at 4 By 4 Brewing - Fremont Hills and 4 By 4 Brewing - Galloway for inviting us to help host their Charity Bingo Nights this past May. The events raised a total of $791, which will help provide about 2,300 meals for our neighbors facing hunger!

🎊 A well-deserved celebration of Lona Wait for reaching 3,000 hours of volunteer time at Ozarks Food Harvest!

Lona has been volunteering with us since 2011 and has helped provide an estimated 378,000 meals for our neighbors facing hunger in southwest Missouri 💪. Now 83 years old, she has become a familiar (and welcome) face in our mission to feed our neighbors.

To express our gratitude, staff and volunteers gathered to cheer for Lona on her way to yet another volunteer session. Lona also moved her apple to the 3,000-hour branch on our Gift of Time Tree and was presented with her own reserved parking spot.

Here's what Lona had to say about her time at The Food Bank: "Feeding people and having them feel good is so important. I have met so many people here that have been important, and I admire their stories of how they got involved."

❤️ Celebrating Lona reminds us just how grateful we are for the folks who donate their time at The Food Bank. Coming together for a common, crucial mission has brought us some of the most compassionate and hardworking folks. Lona, thank you again for volunteering with us for 15 years.

Food banks may not be tax policy experts, but we are experts on hunger. On Tuesday, August 4th, voters will consider Amendment 5, which could change Missouri's individual income tax policy. Here's how this amendment could affect our work in the Ozarks.

Learn more about Missouri’s NAP tax credits at ded.mo.gov/programs/community/neighborhood-assistance-program-nap.

🍽️ Thank you so much to everyone who participated in Walmart and Sam's Club's Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign to support food banks nationwide. Here in southwest Missouri, shoppers helped raise $91,000 for Ozarks Food Harvest!

These funds will help us increase access to nourishing meals at a time when more of our neighbors are worried about making ends meet. Food is the basic necessity people need in order to thrive. Thank you for helping make our community stronger. 💪🛒🍎

In case you missed it:
Fight Hunger. Spark Change. is Walmart and Sam's Club's annual fundraiser campaign in partnership with Feeding America. Shoppers made a difference by purchasing participating products, donating at checkout, and giving directly through the campaign website. Special thanks to Walmart, Sam's Club, and the brands who contributed their participating products.