February 2020
harvest time
Ozarks Food HArvest – The food BAnk
Newsletter from the o’reilly center for hunger relief
“The pantry is the most important thing we do. These kids are undernourished. Even though there might be food stamps at home, that doesn’t mean they’re getting fed.” - Patty Brayfield, founder and executive director of Project 360
Teen Hunger in the Ozarks Childhood hunger is often talked about, but teenagers, who exist in the upper end of the age spectrum, are often overlooked.
meal together and visit the food pantry. The organization serves between 20 and 30 kids each day after school.
Food insecurity is widespread among teenagers in southwest Missouri, but because teens don’t want their peers to know they’re struggling, they often avoid asking for help. Fortunately, teens in Lebanon, MO have a place to get help and avoid embarrassment.
“The pantry is the most important thing we do. These kids are undernourished. Even though there might be food stamps at home, that doesn’t mean they’re getting fed,” Patty said. “One of our teenagers told me that her mom got food stamps every month, but she never got the benefit of the food because her mother kept it hidden in her bedroom.”
Project 360 exists to serve teenagers experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. Patti Brayfield, the founder and executive director, believes that teen hunger and homelessness are often caused by issues at home. Parental abuse, neglect, foster care and the use of drugs and alcohol by parents are among the many situations teenagers dealing with hunger typically face. “I feel like it’s overlooked because they don’t have a voice, and they don’t make themselves identifiable….no one imagines that the parents could care so little,” she shared. At the Sound House—the organization’s 3,000 square-foot youth resource center serving 13-20-year-olds—teens can get help with homework, apply for jobs, have a
ozarksfoodharvest.org
Project 360 gets deli meat, bread, canned fruit and veggies, microwavable meals, canned tuna and other easy-to-prepare foods from Ozarks Food Harvest. Since many of the teens served are couch-surfing or living in their cars, simple preparation is essential. “It’s pretty rewarding when you know that someone is managing okay because of the food you have been able to give them,” Patti shared. Because of their difficult home lives, most of the teens served are just trying to persist through tough situations until they can live on their own. School also causes stress, as they’re trying to hide the fact that there are problems
at home, or that they’re sleeping on someone else’s couch every night. The Sound House is a safe place for kids to relax and receive much-needed assistance. Volunteers and staff offer comfort, counsel and, most importantly, a place where everyone is heard and valued. “These kids are often the outsiders and misfits at school. At Sound House, they’re often surprised to find people who are as miserable as they are. They consider Sound House a respite between the chaos at school and having to go home,” Patti said. Ozarks Food Harvest is grateful for the work Project 360 is doing to serve teens in need while bringing awareness to the reality of adolescent hunger. Food insecurity affects people of all ages, and together, we can solve it.
Gifts from the Musgrave Foundation supported children across southwest Missouri during the holidays.
Musgrave Foundation generously supports hunger relief The Musgrave Foundation showed tremendous support for families facing hunger this holiday season, and we are so appreciative of these contributions. The Foundation kindly donated $10,000 to The Food Bank’s Weekend Backpack Program, $500 for families needing extra help during the holiday season and additional funds for new shoes for children in Niangua and Fordland. The Weekend Backpack Program funds will help sponsor 62 children with weekend meals during the spring semester. With 1 in 5 children in the Ozarks facing hunger, this gift is so appreciated as it brings hope to so many families in the community. The $500 donation was used to purchase Walmart gift cards for families who needed
a little extra help to make ends meet this holiday season. Each recipient used the gift card to purchase necessary clothing for their children, hygiene items, food and even Christmas presents. Tabetha used the gift card to purchase items for a boy she recently took into her home after he was surrendered by his mother. “He cried when he got the gifts. He told me for the first time in his life, he felt like he had somewhere he belonged,” she shared. The remaining funds were used to support children in Niangua and Fordland. Each child at the school received a box of food items for a holiday meal, along with candy and treats to make the holiday season special. Each child was
also surprised with a new pair of shoes, thanks to the Musgrave Foundation. “The way the children’s faces light up when they open their gifts is just indescribable,” said Denise Gibson, director of development and communication at Ozarks Food Harvest. “They’re so excited to go home and share the food with their family and celebrate the holidays. It really makes those days special.” The Musgrave Foundation has kindly supported Ozarks Food Harvest for 14 years. Throughout this partnership, they have donated $508,500 for children and families in need across southwest Missouri. Special thanks to the Musgrave Foundation for this generosity for children in the Ozarks!
Cook Family Foundation helps provide weekend meals In December, Ozarks Food Harvest was honored to receive a generous $50,000 gift from the Cook Family Foundation. This donation will benefit the Weekend Backpack Program, which helps ensure that at-risk children have something to eat over the weekend.
Company, which designs and manufactures fans, blowers, vents, laboratory exhaust systems and energy recovery ventilators. Although the Foundation was only created two years ago, the Cook Family has been giving generously for many years.
This will help 165 children receive a Weekend Backpack every Friday of the school year. That’s 5,931 food bags for kids struggling with hunger! Each bag contains nutritious and easy-to-open entrees, beverages and snacks so kids don’t have to worry about where their next meal will come from on the weekends.
“The Cook Family Foundation is proud to partner with Ozarks Food Harvest and support the Weekend Backpack Program to help provide food to children who might not get enough to eat on the weekend, and to better prepare kids for their future,” said Faith Giedd, executive director of the Cook Family Foundation.
This is Ozarks Food Harvest’s first gift from the Cook Family Foundation. Established in 2018, this private family organization aims to give back to the community. The Foundation was started to build a strategic and organized framework for giving that enables the Cook Family to establish a visible and lasting philanthropic legacy. The Cook family also owns the Loren Cook
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Giedd. “The Cook Family Foundation is passionate about making a meaningful and positive difference by giving back and enriching the lives of people in the community.” Ozarks Food Harvest is thankful for the Cook Family Foundation and this generous gift that will support so many children.
The Foundation is based in Ozark but supports organizations across the country through grants. The Board of Directors determines areas of interest, priorities and philanthropic goals. “Since the Cook Family Foundation was established, we’ve awarded over $2.5 million, and we expect to exceed this in 2020,” said
The Cook Family Foundation’s gift will support local children.
Transforming Hunger into Hope for more than 37 years
Charlie’s
upcoming Events
Corner
Lent fish Drive February 26–April 9
Participate in this year’s Lent Fish drive by collecting nutritious and low-calorie fish in cans and pouches. Drop them off at The Food Bank during Lent. Encourage your business, organization or church to get involved, too! Last year’s drive collected 3,000 meals for hungry neighbors. Register your group at bit.ly/lentfish2020, or contact Sarah Byrd at sbyrd@ozarksfoodharvest.org for more info.
Charlie O’Reilly
Scouting for food Year-round giving is vital to Ozarks Food Harvest’s mission.
Hunger doesn’t stop after the holidays In November and December, donors contributed financial gifts, local businesses hosted food and fund drives and new faces stepped into our volunteer center. There was an incredible outpouring of kindness and philanthropy during the holiday season throughout the Ozarks. These thoughtful gifts provided thousands of meals for families facing hunger during the holiday season. Because of you, they were able to put a special holiday meal on the table. As a new year began, gifts to The Food Bank slowed down. And unfortunately, hunger doesn’t stop after the holidays. In fact, it escalates as winter drags on. For food-insecure families, end-of-year expenses become a harsh reality in January and February. And for so many of these families, when the money runs out, the food does, too. That’s why year-round giving is vital to the health of The Food Bank—and to the lives of the people we serve. With 1 in 5 children and 1 in 7 adults in the Ozarks living with food insecurity day in and day out, your gift matters more than ever.
Program, the Senior Food Program, the Retail Pick-Up Program and so much more. These programs help provide meals for thousands of children, families and seniors every single day of the year. Last fall, Ozarks Food Harvest received its eighth consecutive four-star rating from Charity Navigator, indicating The Food Bank outperforms most other charities in America. Out of the more than 9,000 charities evaluated by Charity Navigator, only four percent have received at least eight consecutive four-star evaluations. We’re incredibly humbled by this honor—and we hope it assures you that each and every dollar you donate to The Food Bank is being used to bring meals and hope to families across 28 counties in southwest Missouri. Thank you for your holiday gifts—and thank you in advance for your 2020 donations. If you have questions about how your donation is being used, give Bart a call. Together, we’ll bring hope to hungry families in 2020.
As you may know, every dollar donated to The Food Bank helps provide four meals for people in need. Your donations help support people like Sandra, a single mom who has trouble caring for her family.
March
Join Boy Scouts in collecting food for hungry neighbors this March. Local Scouts will go door-to-door to collect nonperishable food items for the 31st annual Scouting for Food. Place your donations in plastic grocery bags that will be distributed in neighborhoods throughout March, or donate at the one-day food drive at participating Walmart stores at the end of the month.
Arvest Million meals March 30–May 30
Help Arvest Bank raise millions of meals for hungry families across the nation this spring. Each year, Arvest Bank challenges associates, customers and community members to raise food and funds to feed neighbors in need. Donations can be dropped off at Arvest branches in Springfield and Nixa. Since 2011, the campaign has helped provide more than 300,000 meals.
Volunteer appreciation Month April
This April, we’re taking time to recognize some special supporters: our volunteers! Sincere thanks to the thousands of volunteers who gave time at The Food Bank in 2019. Hunger heroes gave more than 29,700 hours to provide millions of meals. Stay tuned to see how we’ll honoring their hard work and dedication throughout April.
“I can’t afford to feed everyone, so I get this food. This gives me one less bill to pay,” she shared. Monetary donations to The Food Bank not only help provide food for our partner pantries, but they also sustain the Weekend Backpack
Your donations help bring hope to hungry families.
Give time, food or funds at ozarksfoodharvest.org
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The reality of winter for food insecure families As temperatures begin to dip below freezing in January and February, many of us resort to cuddling up by the fire and sipping hot chocolate. But for families living in poverty, colder days are accompanied by a fear of hunger. Winter can be the most difficult season for food insecure families. As temperatures plummet and utilities bills skyrocket, these individuals are left with a difficult choice: Do they keep the heat on, or do they buy groceries? Nearly 67 percent of people served by Ozarks Food Harvest report having to choose between paying for utilities and purchasing food. This state of “heat or hunger” can be extremely dangerous, especially for children, the elderly and people with pre-existing medical conditions. People with heart conditions and respiratory disorders are susceptible to worsening issues during the winter months. When times get tough, some people may even stop taking
prescribed medications in order to pay the bills and feed their families. Many people living in poverty in the Ozarks are employed, but low-wage jobs don’t cover every bill that comes in, especially during the winter. Individuals working seasonal jobs— like landscaping or farming—also suffer as employment ends and they wait for the spring to come. Snow day cancellations can also cause issues for food insecure families. Many parents rely on schools to provide breakfast and lunch for their children. When a snow day comes around, children may be left without a meal.
Bart Brown, President/CEO
Bart’s
Hope Note
Unexpected car repairs, an increase in medical bills from seasonal illnesses and holiday credit card bills also contribute to our neighbors going hungry during the winter months.
“A lot of people depend on this. I don’t know what people would do without the pantry,” said Alice, who also visits one of our pantries to help provide for her family.
Fortunately, families can turn to local food pantries. Cassie, a mother of two teenagers, visits one of Ozarks Food Harvest’s pantries for assistance during the winter months.
Donations to The Food Bank tend to slow down after the holidays wrap up, but they’re needed now more than ever. Your contributions will allow families to keep the heat on and purchase groceries. Because of you, a senior can afford necessary medications and stay warm; a child can enjoy the beauty of winter with a full stomach; a single mother doesn’t have to explain why the heat got turned off.
“My husband works, but when you pay for utilities, rent, car payment and health insurance, we’re broke. It is not enough, and I wish it was,” she shared. Families like Cassie’s exist across the Ozarks, and they’re counting on generous donors like you to help them through hard times.
Thank you so much for your continued support of The Food Bank. You are helping us keep our neighbors warm and well-fed this winter.
Your support helps food insecure families get through winter.
THE CHALLENGES OF SENIOR HUNGER More than 40,000 seniors (age 60 and older) in the Ozarks struggle with the issue of hunger. After retirement, many seniors rely on fixed monthly incomes from Social Security. Monthly bills for rent, medication, healthcare and utilities quickly eat up the funds, leaving little to no money left for groceries. Food insecurity has adverse effects on people across the age spectrum, but it can be particularly problematic for seniors. Several factors contribute to senior hunger, including living in multi-generational households.
Denise Gibson, Development Director
From
Denise’s Desk
In today’s world, 1 in 5 Americans live in a multi-generational home. This can be wonderful for seniors, as it allows them to spend more time with their children and grandchildren, but it can also be a contributing factor to food insecurity. Many grandparents are quick to forgo their dietary needs so their grandchildren can have food in their bellies.
spent working and raising a family. Ozarks Food Harvest partners with a number of senior centers in the Ozarks, ensuring that these hungry neighbors have somewhere to turn for support. These facilities offer warm meals and community for so many. The Food Bank’s Senior Food program also ensures that seniors have something to eat. This program supplements the diets of low-income seniors with USDA food. Individuals can receive these boxes at senior centers, churches and food pantries across the area. We need your help to meet the needs of local seniors. If you would like to offer your support, please visit ozarksfoodharvest.org/donate, and designate your gift to the Senior Food program. Thank you for your support of food insecure people of all ages in southwest Missouri.
It’s heartbreaking to think that seniors might not be able to make ends meet after a lifetime
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Transforming Hunger into Hope for more than 37 years
Special Thanks to these friends of the food bank Tyson & McDonald’s help provide holiday meals
First annual Harvest Beer Festival raises $10,000
Tyson Foods, Inc., the supplier of chicken for McDonald’s of the Ozarks, donated 40,000 pounds of chicken breast filets to help feed families. Since 2008, Tyson Foods has donated more than 438,000 pounds of chicken to The Food Bank. Just a day before this donation, McDonald’s hosted Dining to Give Back. Stores donated 20 percent of proceeds to Ozarks Food Harvest, and the fundraiser brought in $7,047. Since 2008, McDonald’s has helped provide more than 253,000 meals. Thank you to these partners for their continued support!
Ozarks Food Harvest was excited to partner with nine local craft breweries for the inaugural Harvest Beer Festival on Nov. 22. More than 400 people purchased tickets and attended the event at Moon Town Crossing. Special thanks to 4 x 4 Brewing Company, Great Escape Beer Works, Hold Fast Brewing, Lost Signal Brewing Company, Mother’s Brewing Company, Tie & Timber Beer Co., Show-Me Brewing, Springfield Brewing Company and White River Brewing Company. This event raised $10,000, which will help provide 40,000 meals across the Ozarks.
OZARKS FOOD HARVEST BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dr. Meera Scarrow Mercy Hospital-Springfield–President Tommy Wohlgemuth SGC™ Foodservice–President Elect Brad Crain Arvest Bank of Springfield–Treasurer James Wilson NewStream Enterprises, a subsidiary of SRC Holdings–Secretary Kurt Bain Kraft Heinz TIm Bellanti Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc., Retired Clayton Brown Prime Inc. Tamara de Wild O’Reilly Auto Parts–Past President Mike Pinkston Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. Jill Reynolds Commerce Trust Company Kenny Ross Ross Construction Group Krystal Russell Spectrum Accounting and Payroll Vault
Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot donations provide 16,484 meals
The Food Bank is grateful for Tyson and McDonald’s support.
Donors exceed Giving Tuesday goal On Giving Tuesday, December 3, donors raised a total of $22,534, surpassing Ozarks Food Harvest’s $15,000 goal. This will help provide 90,136 meals for hungry children, families and seniors. Special thanks to everyone who donated!
Enterprise gifts $12,000 to The Food Bank Heartfelt thanks to Enterprise for its recent gift of $12,000 from the Fill Your Tank Program! This program was created to celebrate the company’s 60th anniversary in 2016 and to help fight hunger across the nation. This generous gift will help provide 48,000 meals for people facing hunger in the Ozarks.
Nixa Harter House helps provide more than 43,000 meals during Check Out Hunger Harter House employees went above and beyond during the 2019 Check Out Hunger Campaign. From Nov. 1-Dec. 31, customers could donate funds at the registers of participating grocery stores. Harter House employees in Nixa raised $10,952 in donations for The Food Bank! This will help provide 43,808 meals for families in need.
This year, we were reminded of the wonderful generosity of our community during the 25th Annual Turkey Trot! This year’s drive collected 16,484 meals for hungry families. Since 2001, the widely-attended Thanksgiving Day race has collected more than 145,000 meals for The Food Bank. We are grateful to everyone who donated and the amazing volunteers who gave their time and support for the event.
Lucky’s Market helps provide more than 10,000 meals Lucky’s helped provide meals during the holiday season. On December 3, the store donated 10 percent of sales to Ozarks Food Harvest, and throughout November and December, they collected nonperishable food donations for hungry families. These events helped raise 10,200 meals for The Food Bank.
Smart Chicken makes annual holiday donation
OZARKS FOOD HARVEST STAFF Bart Brown, President/CEO ADMINISTRATION Cindy Snow, Director of Administration Cindy Boggs, Office Manager Terry Keller, Human Resource & Administrative Services Manager Laura King, Receptionist Lauren Zachary, Administrative Services Assistant DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNICATION Denise Gibson, Director of Development & Communication Sarah Byrd, Community Engagement Coordinator Jordan Dykstra, Graphic Designer Cassie Hanson, Development & Grants Manager Sara Roelke, Communication Coordinator Micah Rudd, Donor Relations Coordinator Jennifer Sickinger, Community Engagement Manager COMMUNITY RESOURCES Gordon Day, Director of Community Resources Dan Bohannon, Retail Store Donation Coordinator Andrew Magnus, Volunteer Coach Brenda Hesebeck, Volunteer Coach Jeremy Moore, Volunteer Coach Alexa Poindexter, Full Circle Gardens Coordinator Jolene Thompson, Volunteer Manager Aaron Wilde, Volunteer Coach Julie Woodiel, Retail Store Donation Coordinator
In December, Ozarks Food Harvest received a donation of nearly 7,000 pounds of poultry from Smart Chicken, thanks to its Smart Giving Holiday Challenge. Smart Chicken donates 10 percent of the poultry purchased at various retailers in the area during the month of November. This is the 17th year for the donation, which provides food pantries in southwest Missouri with a great source of protein just before the holidays.
MEMBER SERVICES Mary Zumwalt, Director of Programs & Member Services Terra Baum, Agency Capacity & Compliance Manager Jordan Browning, Comm. Partnerships & Advocacy Coordinator Casey Gunn, Retail Compliance Specialist Heather Haloupek, Child Nutrition Programs Coordinator Kimberly Hansen, CSFP/Senior Box Coordinator Rebecca Moore, Backpack Program Coordinator Natalie Regenold, SNAP Coordinator Jane Terry, Creative Information Specialist Melanie Toler, Member Services Assistant Shada Travis, Agency Support Specialist
Neighbor’s Mill helps provide more than 7,000 meals
OPERATIONS ADMINISTRATION Scott Boggs, Director of Operations Teresa Dixon, Warehouse Manager Trisha Heflin, Warehouse/Compliance Supervisor Mike Hesebeck, Transportation Supervisor Eddie Hicks, Compliance Manager Steve Roberts, Transportation Manager Marcus Seal, Volunteer Center Supervisor
Big thanks to Neighbor’s Mill and its customers for donating $1,760 during its fundraiser in December. Customers had the option to round up their total at the register to help provide meals or donate cash in a fund receptacle. The funds raised will help provide 7,040 meals.
Give time, food or funds at ozarksfoodharvest.org
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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Millsap Farm Helps hungry Families Too often, people struggling with hunger rely on foods that lack essential nutrients. These food items are cheap and easily accessible, but may not provide the nutrition needed for a healthy life. Ozarks Food Harvest’s Full Circle Gardens program helps these families get the nutrients they need through the distribution of fresh, local produce. Partnerships are an essential part of the garden program. In 2019, Millsap Farm donated 2,445 pounds of produce for hungry neighbors. The farm also donated nearly two dozen different vegetable plants for our partners.
Fabio has donated nearly 800 hours of volunteer time to Ozarks Food Harvest.
Volunteer passionately pursues hunger relief for the community Every Wednesday, Fabio Heredia can be found sorting food in Ozarks Food Harvest’s warehouse. He also volunteers at Crimson House—one of Ozarks Food Harvest’s food pantries—twice a month during distribution days. His friends at The Food Bank know him as hardworking, kind and passionate about Transforming Hunger into Hope. Volunteering with The Food Bank opened Fabio’s eyes to the issues of hunger in southwest Missouri. “Time after time (at Crimson House), I have seen the needy immediately open and eat food they just received because they are so hungry,” he shared. “As I see this, I cannot help but wonder how many hours or days it has been since they had a decent meal or, worse, had anything to eat at all.” Fabio was born in Colombia, South America and came to the U.S. in 1962 to study at The University of Texas. He began volunteering
at Ozarks Food Harvest after retiring from a career in language interpretation. Since 2017, Fabio has donated nearly 800 hours to Ozarks Food Harvest. Fabio knows that hunger exists all around us— and that we all must work together to solve it. “There are many people without a place to sleep, without food, without certainty as to where their next meal is coming from and we can help,” he said. “I hope 2020 is the year where entities such as Ozarks Food Harvest enjoy days completely full of volunteers and with so many donations that more warehouses will need to be built. Pass the word!”
Additionally, Millsap Farm donates to The Food Bank’s partners through Harvest on Wheels, which picks up produce after the Farmer’s Market of the Ozarks ends on Saturday afternoons. Curtis and Sarah Millsap, along with their nine children, operate Millsap Farm. The 20-acre farm is located just four miles north of Springfield. The farm mainly operates through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares while selling produce at the Farmers Market of the Ozarks, to local restaurants and through a self-serve farm stand. “We are blessed to get to grow good food for our community, and we are delighted to share our abundant harvests with those experiencing hunger in The Ozarks,” said Curtis. The Millsaps have been donating produce to hungry families since 2007. We’re so thankful for their continued generosity that allows food insecure families to have fresh, healthy meals.
We’re thankful for Fabio and the time he has committed to Ozarks Food Harvest in his retirement. Want to volunteer with us? Visit ozarksfoodharvest.org/volunteer to sign up and self-schedule. Millsap Farm helps provide produce for food insecure families.
6 Transform Hunger into Hope by volunteering to help your neighbors in need. Sign up at ozarksfoodharvest.org/volunteer.
Individuals 20+ hours November 1 – December 31, 2019
Groups 20+ hours
November 1 – December 31, 2019 American National Ameriprise Ava H.S. National Honor Society Bois D’Arc Elementary - 5th Grade Class Campbell UMC Circle #7 CE Mobile Team Enactus Family Medical Care Center Girl Scout Troop 70919 Good Samaritan - Step Ahead Program Hickory Hills Country Club Snowflake Court Home Builders Association Jamie Boland’s Group King’s Way UMC Logan-Rogersville H.S. CLICK Academy Logan-Rogersville H.S. FFA Mercy Human Resources Department Miller Commerce MSU Beta Alpha Psi MSU Residence Life MSU Softball Team National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors National Heights Baptist Church Youth SGC Foodservice SPS Mercy Base Program St. Agnes Elementary - 5th Grade Class The Whitlock Company Timken UnitedHealthcare /Optum Wesley UMC
James Blackwell Robin Carver Sophia Clanton Gale Clithero Sharon Cook Gary DeHaven Desiree Dixon Kris Dreesen Arlene Eichler Joseph Elliott Elizabeth English Mauricio Franco Gerald Green Cindy Hawdon Fabio Heredia Donald Landon
George Lawrence Ann Marsh Melvie Mosier Colin Nyemetz Scott Pettit Melody Pierson Michael Richele Brian Roberts Warren Satterfield John Schvab Weston Simpson Logan Steinhour Katelyn Stracke Lona Wait Georgeann Warren
Thank you to our amazing volunteers for their generous gift of time. food & Fund drives 120+ Meals November 1 – December 31, 2019
Ridewell Suspensions — 17,142 Springfield-Greene County Park Board Turkey Trot — 16,506 Springfield Meta-Games — 6,725 American Legion 69 — 6,000 Mercy Care Management — 2,911 MSU Meyer Library — 2,884 Legacy Bank — 2,700 Do Outdoors, Inc. — 1,646 Ozarks Technical College-Bookstore — 1,635 The Wooten Company, LLC — 1,574 Nature Center — 1,500 Field Elementary — 1,406 Arbonne — 1,269 Ron’s Last Call — 1,256 Mister Carwash — 1,176 Church of Humansville — 1,168
Lucky’s Market — 1,134 Pappo’s Pizzeria South — 1,102 Affinity Wealth Partners — 1,042 MSU Baseball Pitching Staff — 1,040 Greenwood Lab School — 913 Bankers Life — 818 Buzbee Dental — 675 Holmes and Griffeth Financial Planners — 634 Edward Jones — 600 Dillard’s Cosmetics — 568 Wonders of Wildlife — 547 Diventures — 495 Southwest Missouri Realty — 463 Salon Truth — 433 Wilder Elementary School — 411 Town and County — 400 Grant Ave. Freewill Baptist Church — 366 Academy of Hair Design — 360 Evelyn Grere — 357 MSU Orchestra — 355 Commerce Bank — 324 JBC Tire Complete Auto Care — 295 Classical Conversations — 281 Air Services and All Services — 239 Parkview High School — 237 Zeal Integrated Health — 230 Seminole Baptist Temple — 203 Grega Christmas Party — 188 MoDOT — 187 North Side Pool Pals — 187 Cintas — 184 John Parker — 179 Sound Advice Hearing Doctors — 178 Chestnut Wellness — 174 MSU College of Agriculture — 170 Bass Pro Shops — 164 Amazon.com — 163 HM Employee Benefits & Risk Management — 162 Walmart - Independence — 131 Heer’s Luxury Living — 129 Cash Family Orthodontics — 128
Thank you so much to our ongoing food and fund drive hosts!
Ridewell Suspension employees raise more than 38,000 meals
Ridewell Suspensions in Springfield went above and beyond with its food and fund drive at the end of 2019. Employees collected 1,237 pounds of food and $4,028 for hunger relief in December. The company generously provided a fund match for every dollar and pound raised to add an additional $5,265. That brings their total amount donated from the drive to 38,000 meals!
For more than 50 years, Ridewell has designed and manufactured suspensions for heavy duty trucks and trailers. The company began donating to Ozarks Food Harvest in 2011. Since then, Ridewell has helped provide 44,667 meals in southwest Missouri.
hungry neighbors with food and fund drives. The Food Bank is so appreciative of Ridewell Suspensions and its employees. To learn more about hosting a food and fund drive with your business, visit ozarksfoodharvest.org/fooddrive.
Year after year, Ridewell employees demonstrate compassion and generosity for
The power of monthly giving In 2019, Ozarks Food Harvest received more than $100,000 from monthly donors. Members of Harvest Circle—The Food Bank’s monthly giving program—provide meals and so much more with their consistent gifts. Heartfelt thanks to these important sustainers and their desire to give back to the community. Would you consider bringing hope to the
hungry with your monthly gifts? These funds allow us to plan ahead, budget effectively and respond immediately when needs arise. They also help us reduce costs, as donations are processed automatically each month. Your monthly donation matters, no matter how much it is. Every dollar donated helps provide four meals. For just a few dollars a
month, you can help hungry neighbors find hope for a better tomorrow. To enroll in monthly giving with a credit card, visit ozarksfoodharvest.org/donate. For all other donation methods, contact Micah Rudd at mrudd@ozarksfoodharvest.org
Share why you support Ozarks Food Harvest on social media. You might encourage someone to become a Hunger Hero!
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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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