July 2021
harvest time
Ozarks Food HArvest – The food BAnk
Newsletter from the o’reilly center for hunger relief
“These kids never would have had these food opportunities, foremost without Ozarks Food Harvest, and without the outreach program.”
Rural family finds hope in Barton County A family of five in rural Barton County has hope again after receiving help from an Ozarks Food Harvest hunger-relief partner. Hard times left the family with unstable housing, no transportation and no access to food. They walked to a convenience store or used a neighbor’s water to bathe and use the bathroom because they had no running water. The three boys slept in sleeping bags to keep roaches and mice away at night. The family needed help, and without transportation, they had nowhere to turn. Then the pandemic hit. About Our Kids (AOK) Youth, one of The Food Bank’s partners in Barton County, was forced to transition from serving meals in person to delivering them. That’s when they noticed the family’s need. “The kids never would have come to AOK because they were totally under the radar,” Jerod Morey, executive director of AOK Youth, shared. “They never would have had these food opportunities, foremost without Ozarks Food Harvest, and without this outreach program. Because we were able to take food to them, it opened up our eyes to so much more.” When a hunger-relief organization doesn’t
ozarksfoodharvest.org
have to worry about sourcing food, they can focus on making sure families have access to it. That’s why Ozarks Food Harvest has worked so hard during the pandemic to ensure our network always has food. AOK Youth didn’t have to worry about where their food was coming from, which allowed them to focus on finding and helping families in their time of need. The family of five now has their boys enrolled in AOK’s summer youth program, which allows them to eat, hang out with friends and attend field trips. The most important part of the program, according to Jerod, is that the kids just get to be kids. “They’ll say, ‘I don’t have to worry about anything when I’m here,’” he shared. “‘I don’t have to worry about being hungry.’” Children are more susceptible to food insecurity, especially during the summer when free and reduced school meals are not available. But because of AOK, and other Ozarks Food Harvest summer sites, thousands of children have access to nutritious food all summer long. Many of these sites are in rural areas, which often face hunger at higher rates. A lack of transportation is also an unseen
- Jerod Morey, executive director at AOK Youth
barrier to families living in these remote or hard-to-reach towns. “There are families in rural Barton County that desperately need food but are not able to get it because they don’t have a way to come into Lamar,” Jerod shared. “Their kids rely on school transportation, and they don’t have the extra funds to run back and forth to get food and resources.” AOK Youth is committed to reaching rural families in need. Thanks to the dedicated staff at AOK Youth, the family of five now has stable housing, running water and food in their pantry. More importantly, they have hope. Without donations from people like you, Ozarks Food Harvest wouldn’t be able help organizations like AOK Youth. We are so grateful for the people in our network of 270 hunger-relief organizations that make life-changing stories like this happen. Thank you for ensuring our organization can continue to Transform Hunger into Hope in southwest Missouri.
This year, Hunger Action Month will benefit Ozarks Food Harvest’s Weekend Backpack Program.
Coming soon: September is hunger Action Month Hunger Action Month is Ozarks Food Harvest’s annual advocacy and education campaign. Each September, community members and business partners help The Food Bank bring attention to the issue of hunger in southwest Missouri. Proceeds from Hunger Action Month will support our Weekend Backpack Program, providing meals for children like Tyler, age 10, who have difficulties learning and behaving in school because they don’t get enough to eat. “When I’m hungry, it makes me feel really irritable, and I just don’t really feel the same way as I normally would,” Tyler shared. “When I’m learning, it will derail the way that I’m learning because I’m not listening the same way that I was when I was not hungry.” Businesses, groups and individuals can all fight childhood hunger by hosting their own fundraiser, becoming a community partner or attending these events.
Go Orange Day is Sept. 2. Wear orange to raise awareness of the issue of hunger, and share a photo on social media with #HungerActionMonth and #HungerHeroes to show others how you support our mission. Don’t forget to tag Ozarks Food Harvest! Come to The Food Bank Sept. 2 for our Volunteer Open House. We are welcoming new and returning volunteers to learn how they can make an impact in their community and be an Ozarks Food Harvest Hunger Hero! Bring the family for games, giveaways and opportunities to see behind the scenes at Ozarks Food Harvest. Hungerthon, our annual radio-thon with iHeartRadio Springfield, will be Sept. 10–13. Tune in all weekend and make your pledge of $360, or $30 a month, to sponsor a year of weekend meals for a child facing hunger.
ceramic bowls donated by local artists online Sept. 20–23, or in person on Sept. 24 at Panera Bread on South Campbell Ave. Through the Apron Fashion Show presented by Tea Bar & Bites Café, you can bid on handcrafted aprons and other unique items from local businesses and artists. The online auction will be Sept. 27–29, with the in-person event happening Sept. 30. We hope you’re as excited as we are for this year’s events! To learn more about all things Hunger Action Month, visit hungeractionmonth.info. If you would like to partner with us, contact Sarah Byrd at sbyrd@ozarksfoodharvest.org.
Empty Bowls is back in person this year. Patrons can purchase handmade wooden and
Stopping food waste through Retail Pick-Up Have you ever wondered what happens to food that’s no longer viable for retail sales but still safe to eat? Instead of letting it go to waste, Ozarks Food Harvest rescues the food and gives it to individuals and families experiencing hunger in southwest Missouri. Through the Retail Pick-Up Program, The Food Bank coordinates with more than 120 grocers each week to pick up products that are safe for consumption and deliver them to hunger-relief partners. “Products that no longer meet our strict standards, but are still great quality, are diverted from our store to Ozarks Food Harvest to help feed those in need,” Brad Auge, the district store director at Hy-Vee Springfield, said. “In years past, these products would typically end up in a landfill. However, this great program allows
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these products a second life and an opportunity to provide food for those who struggle with food insecurity.” The food donations include fresh produce, frozen meat, dairy and other perishable goods, as well as nonperishable food products. Our retail partners also donate paper goods and hygiene items that might have packaging defects. Before the donations can be sent to our hunger-relief partners, they are carefully inspected and sorted by our volunteers at the O’Reilly Center for Hunger Relief. Each year, grocery stores donate more than 5.5 million pounds of food to The Food Bank. We are so grateful for each of our retail partners that help us bring nutritious food to families across our 28-county service area.
“Aldi is proud to be partnered with Ozarks Food Harvest to help our local communities,” Felicia Stinnett, the store manager at the Aldi location in Lebanon, shared. “Not only does it prevent unnecessary waste, but we are also able to help local citizens who are in need of extra assistance during these unpredictable times.” As we continue to support our neighbors facing food insecurity, we want to thank our retail partners who help us keep food out of the landfill and help us Transform Hunger into Hope. For a full list of the grocers participating in the Retail Pick-Up Program, visit ozarksfoodharvest.org/programs/retail-pick-up.
Transforming Hunger into Hope for more than 37 years
Charlie’s
upcoming Events
Corner
Taste of somo August 28
Charlie O’Reilly
We are so thankful for volunteers like Dewayne and all of their hard work over the past year.
Head to Downtown Springfield for food, fun and to raise funds for The Food Bank. Taste of SoMo will feature food tasting, drink sales and live music at Park Central Square. The Downtown Springfield Association, in partnership with SGC Foodservice and local restaurants and vendors, hosts this event that offers fun for the whole family. Enjoy food tasting from 12–4 p.m. and drinks and live music from 12–5 p.m. Taste of SoMo raises money for Ozarks Food Harvest, helping us provide food for the 1 in 5 children and 1 in 7 adults in southwest Missouri facing food insecurity.
The value of volunteers As we see the community opening back up, The Food Bank’s volunteer program has welcomed back the folks who make the mission of ending hunger in the Ozarks possible. But that wasn’t the case at the beginning of the pandemic. Last April, The Food Bank had to suspend its volunteer program to protect the people who graciously gave their time to fighting hunger. The Missouri Foundation for Health responded by giving Ozarks Food Harvest the funds to hire temporary workers to not only meet the existing need, but to respond to the increase of individuals receiving help for the very first time. The state of Missouri recognized our need by sending the Missouri National Guard to provide additional help. All of these people—donors, temporary workers, soldiers—kept The Food Bank running when it needed them most. After several months, Ozarks Food Harvest was able to start adding more volunteers under social distancing and strict food safety guidelines. I would like to recognize the work of the dedicated volunteers who stuck with The Food Bank through the COVID-19 crisis. Arlene Eichler is approaching 3,000 hours, and I am so grateful for her dedication. These volunteers also went above and beyond during the pandemic, each giving 1,000 or more hours of their time: Jim Blackwell, Gary DeHaven, Kris Dreesen, Wil Hardiman, Don Landon, George Lawrence, Harley Snyder and Lona Wait. Thank you for all you have done for The Food Bank.
to June 2021. I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the men and women of the 1241st Transportation Company (TC). They have truly helped us Transform Hunger into Hope. “This mission allowed soldiers to serve communities outside of the common militaristic view. Ozarks Food Harvest allowed us to assist with providing the needed necessities, putting a smile on faces of students, senior citizens and others through difficult times,” 1st Sgt. Scott Seib said. “We at the 1241st TC say thank you and look forward to assisting in the future.” We are sad to see the Missouri National Guard go as they have been reassigned to other pressing needs in the community, but all of the wonderful support we’ve gotten makes me happy to report that The Food Bank has added even more volunteer spots. Now for each three hour session, there are 18 volunteer openings. Ozarks Food Harvest has also changed its volunteer website. Volunteers are able to control their experience with The Food Bank by personalizing their profiles, self-scheduling for upcoming opportunities and viewing their lifetime hours and participation. I could not be more grateful for all of the people across southwest Missouri dedicated to fighting food insecurity. Please consider joining our mission by giving time. I invite you to create an account with the new system at ozarksfoodharvest.org/volunteer to start building your profile and explore opportunities for service. Thank you for your continued support as we rebuild!
Ozarks Food Harvest would also like to recognize the reliable work of the Missouri National Guard. The soldiers processed nearly 4 million pounds of food with us from April 2020
Give time, food or funds at ozarksfoodharvest.org
Taste of SoMo features local restaurants and benefits Ozarks Food Harvest.
Volunteer open house September 2
Join us at The Food Bank from 2–6:30 p.m. to learn more about volunteering and how you can help fight food insecurity in southwest Missouri. Bring your friends and family to take a tour of the facility, discover opportunities to get involved and enjoy food, games and giveaways. We can’t wait to see you here!
Hungerthon September 10–13
Help us provide weekend meals for children experiencing hunger in the Ozarks! Tune in to iHeartRadio Springfield during the 23rd annual Hungerthon to help us raise funds for the Weekend Backpack Program. All weekend long you can listen for dollar-for-dollar matches to increase your giving. It takes just $360, or $30 a month, to ensure that a child has enough food to eat each weekend of the school year. Want to be a sponsor for the event? Contact Jennifer Sickinger at jsickinger@ozarksfoodharvest.org.
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Effects of Covid-19 remain The future for our community looks bright. COVID-19 restrictions are decreasing, restaurants are opening to customers, and many of us are able to see friends and family for the first time in a year. There’s a lot to be hopeful for, but at Ozarks Food Harvest, we know the effects of COVID-19 will linger for the foreseeable future. That’s why The Food Bank is in it for the long haul. It took 10 years for food insecurity rates to recover after the previous recession, but challenges like this bring out the best in our food bank and the 270 hunger-relief organizations we serve.
Over the course of the COVID-19 crisis, we’ve adjusted and innovated to continue serving the families of southwest Missouri in the best way possible. We increased our use of Mobile Food Pantries, distributing more than a million meals to 64,000 individuals who had never received food assistance before. We purchased $3.6 million worth of food to make sure no organization in our network had an empty cupboard. In total, we provided a recordbreaking 23.5 million meals to people facing hunger in the Ozarks. Fighting hunger during the pandemic has truly been a team effort, and we couldn’t have done it without the help of our partner agencies. Our 28-county service network contains mostly rural areas. Many families living in these communities were hit hardest during the pandemic. Feeding America reports that 87 percent of the counties with the highest rates of food insecurity are rural. I’d like to share with you a COVID-inspired innovation from Christian Associations of Table Rock Lake, an organization working to make food more accessible for a rural population.
Because of you, people like Ezra have been able to put food on the table for their families throughout the past year.
“Some of the food was delivered to their clients’ doorstep, while others scheduled pickup times for clients to come to the distribution location,” shared Christian Associates of Table Rock Lake in Stone County. “As time went by, we developed drive-thru distribution models that worked perfectly and will continue into the
Bart Brown, President/CEO
Bart’s
Hope Note
future because they are so efficient.”
I want to thank everyone who has made this increased assistance possible. I’m so grateful for our agency partners innovating alongside us during this time. As we commit to the long haul of serving our community, we would appreciate your help. Just $1 can help provide $10 worth of groceries for a family facing hunger right now. If you are able to make a gift, visit ozarksfoodharvest.org/donate. Thank you for Transforming Hunger into Hope with us!
Help Children Succeed During the pandemic, the lives of children in the Ozarks changed drastically. It was difficult for them to understand why they couldn’t hug their friends at school or even sit with them at lunch. On top of this mental strain, some kids didn’t get enough to eat. While life continues to be unpredictable, our Weekend Backpack Program provides children in the Ozarks with something they can count on.
Denise Gibson, Development Director
From
Denise’s Desk
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The Weekend Backpack Program provides weekend meals for more than 1,600 children facing food insecurity in the Ozarks. When children don’t get enough to eat, they’re more likely to repeat a grade in elementary school, experience difficulty focusing, and have more social and behavioral problems. These effects can create a lasting impact on the mental and physical health of the child. You can help us give children the food they need to succeed. Each backpack provides kids with three meals, a snack and beverages for each day of the weekend. The program has made a difference in the lives of so many children across the Ozarks. A teacher at Bowerman Elementary
told us about one young student’s experience receiving a backpack. “A third grade student was given a backpack, and then he put his hands on the counselor’s arm and said, ‘Thank you. Thank you very much!’” she shared. “He returned to the classroom, lifted up the backpack and said, ‘I got a backpack!’ It was like he just won a gold medal.” Your generous support makes this impact possible. Most of the funding for the Weekend Backpack Program comes from Hungerthon, our annual radio-thon with iHeartRadio Springfield Sept. 10–13. Please consider making a donation to allow us to continue to support this critical program. You can sponsor a child for just $360, or $30 a month, and they will know that each weekend during the 2021–2022 school year they will have enough to eat. To donate, visit ozarksfoodharvest.org/donate and select the “Weekend Backpack Program” designation from the dropdown menu. Thank you!
Transforming Hunger into Hope for more than 37 years
Special Thanks to these friends of the food bank Arvest Bank’s Million Meals fundraiser raised $3,613
John Deere Foundation helps support local children
Thanks to everyone who made a difference and helped us provide meals through Arvest Bank’s Million Meals campaign. This year, the regional bank collected funds with a focus on online giving through its mobile app. Donations were also accepted at arvest.com and through the drive-up banking portals. We’re so thankful for Arvest Bank and its customers for this incredible gift.
Special thanks to the John Deere Foundation for its $26,810 donation for the Weekend Backpack Program, which will provide 2,638 bags filled with nearly 16,000 meals for students who might not get enough food on the weekends. The John Deere Foundation aspires to be a catalyst for change across the globe. Over the past five years, the foundation has donated more than $75,000 to The Food Bank. We’re extremely thankful for how this organization continues to support at-risk children in southwest Missouri.
Casey’s helps provide more than 237,000 meals Last year during Hunger Action Month, 107 area Casey’s stores invited shoppers to round up their bills at the register. The campaign raised more than $59,200 to help provide more than 237,000 meals! This was part of a nationwide campaign that supported Feeding America food banks across the country. Thanks to Casey’s stores in the Ozarks for participating. Partners like Casey’s help raise awareness and funds for hunger relief, and The Food Bank could not be more grateful for this support.
Vital Farms donates eggs for local families Eggs are healthy and versatile ingredients that we are happy to receive at The Food Bank. When we receive donations of eggs, we provide them to local families facing hunger. At Vital Farms, the pasture-raised eggs are ethically sourced. We are so thankful that Vital Farms has donated more than a million eggs to Ozarks Food Harvest in the past year. The continued support of Vital Farms and their dedication to a better tomorrow is so important to us at The Food Bank.
Tommy Wohlgemuth, President–SGC™ Foodservice Kenny Ross, President Elect–Ross Construction Group Jill Reynolds, Treasurer–Commerce Trust Company Clayton Brown, Secretary–Prime Inc. Kurt Bain–Kraft Heinz Tim Bellanti–Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc., Retired Genevieve Carvel–Positronic Industries, Inc. Tamara Conn–O’Reilly Auto Parts Holly Gray–Heim Young & Associates Kyle Hubbard–Arvest Bank Mike Pinkston–Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. Krystal Russell–Spectrum Accounting and Payroll Vault Dr. Meera Scarrow–Mercy Hospital-Springfield Mary Schrag–Physical Therapy Specialists Clinic
OZARKS FOOD HARVEST STAFF Bart Brown, President/CEO ADMINISTRATION Cindy Snow, Director of Administration Cindy Boggs, Administrative & Inventory Support Supervisor Terry Keller, Human Resource & Administrative Services Manager Laura King, Receptionist Emily Tompkins, Administrative Services Assistant
John Deere Foundation provides nearly 16,000 meals.
Families receive fresh produce, thanks to Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies
Thanks to Casey’s for supporting ongoing hunger relief.
OZARKS FOOD HARVEST BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ozarks Food Harvest received nearly $23,000 to acquire fresh produce, thanks to the Midwest Disaster Preparedness grant from Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies (MACP), on behalf of Feeding America. The majority of this produce will be distributed through Mobile Food Pantry distributions that regularly provide meals across rural southwest Missouri. This generous grant will provide so many local families with fresh produce to create healthy meals over the next few months. Thank you again for this kind gift, MACP!
Thanks to MACP for providing produce for Mobile Food Pantry distributions
Thank you Vital Farms for your ongoing partnership!
Give time, food or funds at ozarksfoodharvest.org
DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNICATION Denise Gibson, Director of Development & Communication Sarah Byrd, Community Engagement Coordinator Jordan Dykstra, Graphic Designer Cassie Hanson, Development & Grants Manager Hannah Loder, Communication Intern Micah Rudd, Donor Relations Coordinator Jennifer Sickinger, Community Engagement Manager Allie Smith, Community Engagement Administrative Assistant COMMUNITY RESOURCES Stephanie Miller, Director of Community Resources Brittanie Allen, Volunteer Coach Dez Boykin, Volunteer Coach Gordon Day, Community Resources Associate Cady Goble, Glean Coordinator Andrew Magnus, Volunteer Coach Alexa Poindexter, Full Circle Gardens Manager Kevin Richardson, Volunteer Coach/Instructional Materials Designer Marcus Seal, Volunteer Supervisor Emilia Stauffer, Volunteer Coach Jason Terry, Assistant Volunteer Supervisor Jolene Thompson, Volunteer Engagement Coordinator Aaron Wilde, Material Handler/Volunteer Coach Julie Woodiel, Food Sourcing Coordinator MEMBER SERVICES Mary Zumwalt, Director of Programs & Member Services Terra Baum, Agency Capacity & Compliance Manager Jordan Browning, Public Information Officer Casey Gunn, Retail Compliance Specialist Heather Haloupek, Child Nutrition Programs Coordinator Deidra McBride, CSFP/Senior Box Coordinator Natalie Regenold, SNAP Coordinator Jane Terry, Creative Information Specialist Melanie Toler, Member Services Assistant Shada Travis, Agency Support Specialist OPERATIONS ADMINISTRATION Scott Boggs, Director of Operations Kim Hansen, Operations Administrative Coordinator Trisha Heflin, Warehouse Supervisor Mike Hesebeck, Transportation Supervisor Eddie Hicks, Compliance Manager Sharon Penrod, Warehouse Coordinator Steve Roberts, Operations Manager Due to growth and limited space in the newsletter, all warehouse and transportation associates on the Operations team are now listed online at ozarksfoodharvest.org.
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hunger hero news Feeding families across the Ozarks
“Our fraternity was founded upon three core values of virtue, diligence and brotherly love. Luckily enough, we were able to find an organization that lives out our virtues on a daily basis.” - Clay North, vice president of programming for Sigma Phi Epsilon Missouri Eta chapter
Sigma Phi Epsilon gives back at The Food Bank It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic changed life drastically. One area that’s been greatly affected is the opportunity for in-person volunteering. Missouri State University’s Sigma Phi Epsilon found it hard to serve until the fraternity discovered Ozarks Food Harvest. “Our interest in volunteering at Ozarks Food Harvest began with the current pandemic limiting our abilities to provide our community outreach,” Clay North, vice president of programming for the Missouri Eta chapter, shared. “Our fraternity was founded upon three core values of virtue, diligence and brotherly love. Luckily enough, we were able to find an organization that lives out our virtues on a daily basis.” On Nov. 4, the group began volunteering with us and has already donated more than 150 hours of its time to fighting hunger.
Sigma Phi Epsilon volunteers regularly at The Food Bank.
The Food Bank not only brings the fraternity closer to the community, but it also brings the members closer to each other. “Ozarks Food Harvest has provided a way for our brothers to leave the chapter house, the residence halls or their apartments and give a couple hours of their day to a greater cause,” Clay said. At volunteering sessions, Sigma Phi Epsilon has enjoyed working with Ozarks Food Harvest staff. “One of the most important things as young men is to meet other men in our lives that display the core virtues. Andrew, one of the volunteer coaches at Ozarks Food Harvest, has been an absolute blessing to work with,” Clay said. “We have never seen Andrew without a smile on his face and that has taught so many of our brothers how to live our daily lives.”
For the group, giving time has allowed for a greater understanding of the issue of hunger. Sigma Phi Epsilon appreciates the opportunity to learn as well as serve. “Volunteering is more than just logging hours and accumulating numbers for us,” Clay shared. “Sigma Phi Epsilon nationally preaches the idea of service learning rather than community service. Learning through the service we do ultimately shapes us to become more well-rounded and compassionate men of the future.” We would like to give a big thank you to the members of MSU’s Sigma Phi Epsilon for all they have done to support The Food Bank. If you would like to sign up a group to volunteer, visit ozarksfoodharvest.org/volunteer. We can’t wait to work with you!
Community Partners Check out the impact our community partners had from March 13–June 11. Wesley United Methodist Church – 37,396 Meals American Eagle, thanks to Feeding America – 18,393 Meals Fordland 4-H Drive – 12,331 Meals Hot Topic/BoxLunch, thanks to Feeding America – 11,664 Meals Lent Fish Drive – 10,035 Meals Pampered Chef, thanks to Feeding America – 9,668 Meals Greater Springfield Board of Realtors March Against Hunger – 8,088 Meals Schnitzer Steel Industries & Pick-n-Pull – 6,850 Meals Macy’s Bag Hunger – 6,338 Meals
Facebook Fundraisers – 5,449 Meals Lambda Chi Alpha - MSU Fraternity – 2,548 Meals Greene Co. Farm Bureau Insurance Drive – 2,381 Meals 5 Pound Apparel – 1,740 Meals Penney, Murray & Associates Ameriprise Drive – 1,635 Meals General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital – 978 Meals National Association of Letter Carriers Southwest District – 800 Meals Starbucks Coffee Company, thanks to Feeding America – 772 Meals Grant Avenue Free Will Baptist Church – 740 Meals
Rapid Roberts – 640 Meals Sigma Kappa Moms Weekend 2021 – 484 Meals Mike Fry Memorial Gift – 400 Meals DHL Supply Chain – 318 Meals Camp Tomahawk – 291 Meals Delta Sigma Pi - Missouri State University – 279 Meals Air Services and All Services – 223 Meals Lambda Chi Alpha - Drury Fraternity – 216 Meals Hickory Hills Middle School – 178 Meals RNR Tire Exchange – 158 Meals Hilton Garden Inn – 52 Meals OakStar Bank – 48 Meals
6 Transform Hunger into Hope by volunteering to help your neighbors in need. Sign up at ozarksfoodharvest.org/volunteer.
volunteers Below is a list of individuals and groups who have donated 15+ hours of time from March 1– May 31, 2021. Individuals
Eagle Scout Christopher Rush provided more than 11,000 meals and built multipurpose workbenches for the garden.
An Eagle Scout fights local hunger A chance encounter at Lowe’s with the spouse of an Ozarks Food Harvest employee led one Eagle Scout to fixing a need in his community. Christopher Rush, an Eagle Scout in Troop 200, was looking for inspiration for his Eagle Scout Service Project when he learned about The Food Bank’s work. Through his encounter, he connected with Glean Coordinator Cady Goble and learned that The Food Bank had funding for workbenches but needed someone to build them. “I was looking for a local organization that supported the community, and when this opportunity arose, I took it,” he shared. He worked with his scouting leader, Darrell Powell, to design and create two multipurpose workbenches, great for seeding and other gardening needs. Christopher also decided to surprise The Food Bank by providing additional support with a $2,765 donation.
“Full Circle Gardens had a budget set aside for this project,” Christopher explained. “I wanted to do a donation drive as a surprise to give back since they were paying for the benches.” Because of his project and fund drive, The Food Bank will be able to provide more than 11,000 meals to people in southwest Missouri. “It was a pleasure to work with everyone,” he said. “I’m happy to see that my project and donation drive will be able to help so many in the Ozarks.” We greatly appreciate Christopher’s dedication to fighting hunger. If you want to check out the new workbenches, join the Glean Team! Sign up at ozarksfoodharvest.org/volunteer.
A Hunger Hero’s legacy Bob Millstead was a dedicated Hunger Hero. As a radiologic technologist at Cox South, he introduced his team to The Food Bank. “It was about 10 years ago when Bob brought up the idea of doing something for the community instead of buying gifts for each of the radiologic technologists,” David Calton, day shift supervisor for diagnostic radiology at Cox South, said. “The committee happily accepted the idea. This began our yearly fall food drive for Ozarks Food Harvest.”
Mark Herron Mary Keidle Mark Lachowitzer Donald Landon Dave Lappin Morgan Mann Larry Marble Charles McCann Clayton McCarter Dillon McConnell Cindy McDonough Jere McKenna Kelsey Mickelberg Tayler Morefield Jeannette Napoleon Peter Nester Bill Peden Melody Pierson Ricky Sackman Karl Simmons Diontae Sweet Margene Terrill Mary Thomas Ericka Van Den Handel Braden Voss Lona Wait Alex Weddle Julia White Emma Whitney Madeline Wiedmaier Kelsey Wood Donna Zeitz
Groups “Bob was always an example of someone who cared fiercely for his friends and his community,” David said. “Bob was the first to step up when someone was in need and he never expected or wanted any recognition. He was a great example of what a friend should be.” We couldn’t be more grateful for all that Bob did for The Food Bank. To contribute to his legacy, visit ozarksfoodharvest.org/donate to make a tribute gift.
Bob and his coworkers helped provide more than 2,500 meals for people facing hunger in the Ozarks in the last five years. Bob passed away in March, and the radiology department decided to honor his legacy by collecting funds for The Food Bank.
Amberger Family Big Brothers Big Sisters Boy Scout Troop 173B Cronkhite Homes Derek and friend Guaranty Bank MSU Lambda Chi Alpha MSU Sigma Phi Epsilon MSU-UMKC School of Pharmacy-2024
NAWIC-Fischer New Covenant Academy Nikfarjam Family Republic HS National Honor Society Springfield Catholic HS SPS GO CAPS-Adams SPS GO CAPS-Earhart SPS-MSU Base Program
We are in urgent need of volunteers! If you are interested in helping us feed the Ozarks, please scan the QR code below or visit ozarksfoodharvest.org/volunteer to sign up. Volunteer Sessions: Mornings: Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–12 p.m. Afternoons: Monday– Thursday 1–4 p.m.
“We took a donation in his name as a memorial fund with his passing,” David shared. “We will continue to support Ozarks Food Harvest by maintaining the fall food drive during ‘Rad Tech Week.’” Losing Bob has greatly impacted the radiology family at Cox.
Ruby Allen Joseph Andrews Oscar Angel Edwin Austin Jennifer Battagler Matthew Bertoldie James Blackwell Tammy Bunting Kim Burton Kenneth Carnahan Tom Carson Kalim Choudhury Gale Clithero Sharon Cook Marilyn Corson Dwayne Cossey Kacey Davis Eileen Deal Gary DeHaven Desiree Dixon Kris Dreesen Danny Edwards Arlene Eichler Brooke Enos Tyler Farquhar Linda Frieda Linda Gillick Janet Haase Carter Hale Mallory Hancock Wil Hardiman Macey Hausam
Evenings: Tuesday 6–9 p.m.
Bob left behind a legacy of Transforming Hunger into Hope.
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O’Reilly Center for Hunger Relief 2810 N. Cedarbrook Ave. | P.O. Box 5746 Springfield, MO 65801-5746 (417) 865-3411 ozarksfoodharvest.org
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