HARVEST TIME
OZARKS FOOD HARVEST – THE FOOD BANK NEWSLETTER FROM THE O’REILLY CENTER FOR HUNGER RELIEF
ANNA’S STORY: PRESERVING FOOD TO PRESERVE HOPE
Anna has a skill that’s not too common these days, and it’s helping her family keep food in the pantry. She knows how to can her own food. Growing up, Anna remembers watching her grandmother home-can food, preserving the freshness of their fruits and vegetables so that nothing went to waste. Anna always wanted to learn, but it wasn’t until recently that she finally taught herself the skill. Now, she’s using her knowledge not only as a fulfilling hobby, but a way to provide for her family when times are tough.
Before her husband’s injury, Anna’s family had a routine. He would go to work as a press operator in Cassville, and Anna would prepare for a day of homeschool with their four children. But last year, Anna’s husband injured his knee. It was debilitating and caused him to be out of work for eight weeks recovering from surgery. That meant eight weeks without their primary source of income. It was a blow to their finances.
To help keep up, Anna got a job painting houses, but it didn’t pay as well as her husband’s had, and the new routine wasn’t working out for their family. “It was hard for him to tend to the little ones [with a knee injury],” Anna explained.
Then, just as Anna’s husband was cleared to return to work, the family faced another
“If I can preserve food to feed my family, that’s what I’m going to do. This food helps me have a stocked pantry for the crazy things in this world.”
– Anna, age 29
setback. A severe storm brought destructive straight-line winds to Barry County that left the family without power for almost a week. “It ruined food in the fridges and freezers,” said Anna, “and we didn’t qualify for any type of government assistance. We were just trying to pick up the pieces where we could.”
That’s when the pastor at Mt. Zion Church in Washburn invited the family to Ozarks Food Harvest’s Mobile Food Pantry hosted in the parking lot. With food from our Mobile Food Pantry, groceries are one less burden on Anna’s family as they recover from recent challenges. Anna even uses her home-canning skills to preserve fresh foods from the distribution just like her grandmother did.
“Not knowing where your next meal comes from makes you want to preserve this kind of stuff,” Anna said. “We’re still trying to recover financially from my husband being off work and inflation. If I can preserve [food] to feed my family, that’s what I’m going to do. This food helps me have a stocked pantry for the crazy things in this world.”
Just days after Anna visited our Mobile Food Pantry, she shared that she’d canned the carrots and chicken they’d received, “just to give them a little more shelf life.” She also uses canning and gardening as science lessons for her children.
Anna’s story is similar to what many people are facing. Right now, 1 in 5 children and 1 in 6 adults in southwest Missouri face hunger as a result of the high costs of food and basic necessities. The Food Bank has served an average of 70,000 individuals per month for the past year; that’s higher than the peak of the COVID-19 crisis. As we head into the coldest months, Ozarks Food Harvest needs your help to keep up with record-high demand and make programs like our Mobile Food Pantry possible.
As Anna said, “It helps a lot of people. People need to eat. I don’t care who you are, I don’t care what you’ve done. Food should never be a privilege for anybody.”
Will you make a gift today so families like Anna’s don’t have to choose between food or utility bills this holiday season? To give now, scan the QR code or visit ozarksfoodharvest. org/donate.
THE FOOD BANK BRACES
FOR INCREASED NEED HEADING INTO THE COLDEST MONTHS
For over a year, many of our hardworking neighbors have endured high costs of food and basic necessities with little relief. Now as we enter the winter months, families facing hunger are at their breaking point during the most challenging time of year.
Winter brings many challenges that contribute to hunger. As temperatures drop, heating bills rise, causing families to make tough choices between groceries or keeping their homes warm. On top of that, the average cost per meal is the highest it’s been since the 2008 Recession after adjusting for inflation. People facing hunger now report needing $100 more per month to be food secure compared to last year.
Charlie’s CORNER
Seasonal illnesses take their toll as well for working individuals, seniors and neighbors with underlying health conditions. One unexpected illness could mean extra doctor visits, prescriptions and unpaid days off work. Regardless of illness, workers in seasonal jobs such as agriculture and tourism see their incomes drop in the winter.
In all of these situations, our neighbors facing hunger need somewhere to turn to help fill the gap. Ozarks Food Harvest’s network of charities is committed to providing consistent, nutritious meals to fight hunger in southwest Missouri. But we need your help.
Donations to The Food Bank tend to slow down after the holidays, but hunger doesn’t stop after Christmas. Ozarks Food Harvest continues to serve a record 70,000 of our neighbors each
For households with children, holidays and weather cancellations place strain on already stretched budgets. Families must budget for extra food when school meals aren’t available, and working parents have to choose between taking the day off to watch kids or paying for childcare.
month. You can help provide meals today by making a donation to Ozarks Food Harvest or signing up as a monthly donor.
Your gift will help neighbors like Michelle, whose family received groceries at one of The Food Bank’s partner pantries. She shared, “There’s just more expenses in the winter time. [The food pantry] bridges the gap. Otherwise, I’d be spending money [on groceries] that we need for rent and utilities, so instead we’re able to pay those bills and not have as much stress about it.”
To give now, scan the QR code or visit ozarksfoodharvest.org/donate.
Your support is an investment in our local communities.
INVEST IN HOPE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
SHOP FOR OUR CAUSE
November 1 - December 25
Do good while you shop for the holidays! This holiday season, shop at businesses running special promotions and deals to benefit The Food Bank. You can see a full list of our participating community partners at ozarksfoodharvest.org/ community-partnerships.
CHECK OUT HUNGER
November 1 to December 31
OZARKS FOOD HARVEST DONATES
7 MILLIONTH MEAL TO CHRISTIAN ACTION MINISTRIES IN CELEBRATION OF 38-YEAR PARTNERSHIP
This fall, Ozarks Food Harvest donated their 7 millionth meal to Christian Action Ministries, (CAM) celebrating 38 years of fighting hunger in Taney County.
The Food Bank is celebrating milestones for its network of 270 faith-based and community charities spread across a third of the state of Missouri. Christian Action Ministries, a leading food pantry in Taney County, was chosen as the third network partner to be celebrated due to their long history with The Food Bank and their efforts to end hunger in their area.
Through their partnership with Ozarks Food Harvest, Christian Action Ministries distributes USDA food, Senior Boxes fresh produce and additional food items to more than 2,700 families each month.
“Without the assistance provided by the food pantry, many families would have to choose between groceries, rent, utilities and healthcare,” said Michele Dean, executive director of Christian Action Ministries. “We are so grateful for the work that Ozarks Food Harvest does to support pantries like ours all across the region.”
With the rising costs of childcare, food, and housing, many families in Taney County are struggling to make ends meet. This year, Christian Action Ministries has seen a 15% increase in the number of families they are serving each month. In August alone, Christian Action Ministries served over 7,800 individuals in Taney County, making it a record-breaking month for the organization.
“Christian Action Ministries is an integral part of our mission to Transform Hunger into Hope in southwest Missouri,” said Bart Brown, president and CEO of Ozarks Food Harvest. “We’re proud to honor them and the efforts they’ve made to end hunger in Taney County.”
Since 2008, Ozarks Food Harvest has provided more than $50,000 in grant funding and 8 million pounds of food to Christian Action Ministries in Branson. To learn more about how you can support Christian Action Ministries and help fight hunger in Taney County, visit christianactionministries.org.
This holiday season, as you gather with loved ones to share meals and create cherished memories, consider investing in Ozarks Food Harvest. This act of generosity can make a profound difference in the lives of families facing hunger in the upcoming year.
Ozarks Food Harvest is one of the best investments you can make this year because your dollar will be stretched as far as it can possibly go to ensure more families can put food on the table. Even with the increased cost of groceries, The Food Bank still spends 96 cents of every dollar donated on food. Bart also tells me that Ozarks Food Harvest provides 70 percent of the food distributed by their network of 270 faith-based and community charities.
If these facts haven’t convinced you, take a look at some of the stories in this month’s newsletter detailing the great work The Food Bank does for its network of charities with food, funds and Mobile Food Pantry distributions. These stories are a testament to the positive impact your support can bring to children, families and seniors in need.
The cover story discusses how The Food Bank’s Mobile Food Pantry program is helping a family overcome hunger in one of our rural communities. On page two, you can learn more about Christian Action Ministries, one
of Branson’s largest community food pantries, and the outstanding work they’re doing with grant funds from Ozarks Food Harvest. Additionally, Bart’s Hope Note highlights Ozarks Food Harvest’s remarkable 13-year streak of 4-star Charity Navigator ratings, solidifying its position as one of the most effective charities in southwest Missouri.
As you read through these stories of hope, consider how you can help give back to The Food Bank’s cause as we approach the end of the year. You can check with your employer to see if they offer a donation match to stretch your dollar further. Or, consider making a tax-free charitable gift from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA), also known as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), that may save you more in taxes than traditional charitable donations. Additionally, think about including Ozarks Food Harvest in your estate planning so your gift can provide hope for generations to come.
Thank you for standing with Ozarks Food Harvest to help end hunger during these challenging times. Your generosity has been instrumental in The Food Bank’s mission to Transform Hunger into Hope and I am profoundly thankful for your commitment. Wishing you and your loved ones a warm and joyful holiday season.
Help provide meals to children, families and seniors while you shop for groceries. Support Ozarks Food Harvest now through Dec. 31 by rounding up or adding a $1, $3 or $5 tax-free donation to your grocery bill. More than 60 local stores will participate in the annual holiday campaign including Apple Market, Country Mart, Harter House, King Cash Saver, King Food Saver, Price Cutter, Ramey, Rhodes Family Price Chopper, Town & Country Supermarket and Woods Supermarket.
SHARE THE HARVEST
Now through January 15
Hunters can donate their excess venison to families facing hunger through the Missouri State Department of Conservation’s Share the Harvest program. Take your deer to an approved meat processor and let the processor know how much venison you wish to donate. Learn more and find an approved processor near you at mdc.mo.gov/ hunting-trapping/species/deer/ share-harvest.
HOST A HOLIDAY FUNDRAISER
Now through December 25
Consider hosting a holiday fundraiser and inviting friends and family to help Transform Hunger into Hope. Every $1 raised will help provide $10 worth of groceries for a neighbor facing hunger, and you’ll help raise awareness about the issue of hunger in the Ozarks. You can create a Facebook fundraiser, or create a customized online fundraiser at ozarksfoodharvest. org/how-to-help/host-a-food-drive.
Charlie O’Reilly
Larry Johnson, chairman of CAM Board of Directors (left) and Michele Dean, CAM executive director (right).
Neighbors lined up to receive food at our Mobile Food Pantry in Sheldon, which serves 250 people each month.
OZARKS FOOD HARVEST EARNS
13TH CONSECUTIVE FOUR-STAR
RATING FROM CHARITY NAVIGATOR
For the 13th year in a row, Ozarks Food Harvest has received a Four-Star Rating – the highest rating possible given to charities – from Charity Navigator. I’m proud to share this news with you because it means that Charity Navigator, America’s largest and most utilized independent charity evaluator, recognizes The Food Bank as one of the most effective hunger-relief charities in the nation.
Charity Navigator’s rating designates Ozarks Food Harvest as an official “Give with Confidence” charity, indicating that The Food Bank is using your donations effectively and responsibly to help fight hunger right here in our communities. The rating encompasses four categories, including Accountability & Finance, Culture & Community, Impact & Results and Leadership & Adaptability.
At Ozarks Food Harvest, 96 cents of every dollar donated goes directly towards food distribution and hunger-relief programs. This is especially important to us because we want to invest in our local communities to make them better. We do that through supporting our network of 270 partner charities with food deliveries and grants to increase their reach and capacity to feed our neighbors.
“We are delighted to provide Ozarks Food Harvest with third-party accreditation that validates their operational excellence,” said Michael Thatcher, president and CEO of Charity Navigator. “The Four-Star Rating is the highest possible rating an organization can achieve. We are eager to see the good work that Ozarks Food Harvest is able to accomplish in the years ahead.”
Receiving a Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator demonstrates Ozarks Food Harvest’s commitment to ending hunger across the Ozarks while being a good steward of every dollar you donate. We’re grateful to our community for helping us provide food for our neighbors facing hunger.
Ozarks Food Harvest reaches more than 70,000 individuals monthly and provides more than 21 million meals annually across our 28-county service area. In the past year, we have purchased more than $2 million worth of food and awarded $400,000 in grant funds to our network of faith-based and community charities to meet the increased demand for food across a third of the state of Missouri.
Your donations also support our neighbors in need with programs like our Mobile Food Pantry Senior Produce Pantries and the Weekend
Bart Brown, President/CEO
BART’S Hope Note
Backpack Program, which provides weekend meals for children facing hunger. Additionally, we provide holiday meals each year so our neighbors can come together to enjoy the season with their loved ones.
As we enter this holiday season, I extend my gratitude to each of you who trusts us with your gifts. Together, we’re making a difference in the lives of children, families and seniors across southwest Missouri. Thank you for being part of our mission.
PANERA SUPPORTS CHILDREN FACING HUNGER THROUGH THE WEEKEND BACKPACK PROGRAM
A recent grant of $15,000 from Panera’s Share the Dough will provide 10,250 weekend meals for children facing hunger during the school year. Share the Dough seeks to transform local communities through generosity, compassion and benevolence. Thanks to Panera, 47 children in need will receive nourishing meals every weekend of the school year.
Panera presented a check at our Empty Bowls event, hosted at the S. Campbell location.
ARVEST BANK FIGHTS HUNGER WITH MILLION MEALS FUNDRAISER
Arvest Bank’s 14th annual Million Meals campaign raised nearly $8,000 this spring for our neighbors facing hunger in southwest Missouri. Since 2011, Arvest Bank and its customers have helped raise awareness about hunger and nearly 394,000 meals. Huge thanks to Arvest Bank for helping feed families in the Ozarks!
MCDONALD’S AND TYSON FOODS DONATE 40,000 POUNDS OF PROTEIN TO OZARKS FOOD HARVEST
Tyson Foods recently donated more than 40,000 pounds of chicken breast filet fritters in honor of McDonald’s $17,000 donation to Hungerthon in September. Neighbors facing hunger often forego buying meat when times are tough because of its higher price and may miss important nutrients in their diet. This chicken donation will provide 33,000 meals and protein for our neighbors.
Thank you, McDonald’s and Tyson Foods, for your commitment to ending hunger in the Ozarks.
Officials with McDonald’s, Tyson Foods, Inc. and iHeartRadio presented donations of $17,000 and 40,000 pounds of
Food Harvest.
MFA OIL RAISES FOOD AND FUNDS TO SUPPORT MISSOURI FOOD BANKS
As you prepare to gather with loved ones this holiday season, imagine if you didn’t have enough food to put on the table for your family.
For thousands of families in the Ozarks, this is a reality. Your gift can change that.
The Food Bank faces high food and transportation costs as we work to provide holiday meals for our neighbors in need.
Your year-end gift to Ozarks Food Harvest will help The Food Bank continue to meet the increased need through the holidays and into the new year.
Year-end donations are not only a great way to get into the spirit of giving, they may also allow you to benefit from tax deductions. Ozarks Food Harvest is the recipient of Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) tax credits from the State of Missouri. If you have a Missouri business income and make a donation, you may qualify to receive a tax credit worth 50% of your contribution.
You can also help by making a tax-free gift from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA), also known as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), that may save you more in taxes than traditional donations. Additionally, consider including Ozarks Food Harvest in your estate planning so your gift can provide hope for generations to come.
Be sure to check with your employer as well to see if they offer a donation match program to stretch your dollar further.
Ozarks Food Harvest relies on generous donations to ensure that our network of faith-based and community charities is equipped to distribute food directly to our neighbors facing hunger across the Ozarks. To donate and learn more, visit ozarksfoodharvest.org/donate or contact us at 417-865-3411.
Your year-end gift helps The Food Bank prepare for the year ahead.
TOM & MARSHA SLAIGHT NOMINATED PHILANTHROPIST OF THE YEAR
Ozarks Food Harvest recently nominated Tom & Marsha Slaight for the Association of Fundraising Professional’s 2024 Philanthropist of the Year. Tom and Marsha are longtime Springfieldians whose support of the community have changed southwest Missouri for the better. Tom and Marsha both serve as Directors on the Darr Foundation Board, and Tom currently serves as a board member of the Musgrave Foundation Grantmaking Distribution Committee. Both of these organizations have awarded The Food Bank with grants to help support local hunger-relief efforts. Ozarks Food Harvest is truly honored to celebrate the Slaight’s philanthropic endeavors that have shaped our community.
We
honored
Ozarks Food Harvest received $25,000 – the equivalent of 75,000 meals – from MFA Oil in collaboration with Feeding Missouri to help families facing hunger in Missouri. Earlier this year, MFA Oil companies raised food and funds for the six Missouri food banks. MFA Oil recognizes the importance of addressing community needs and leverages its resources to make a positive difference in the lives of our neighbors facing hunger. Participating businesses included Big O Tire locations in Branson, Hollister, Lebanon, Rogersville, Nixa, Ozark, Springfield and St. Robert. Thank you, MFA Oil, for supporting children and families facing hunger in southwest Missouri.
OZARKS HEALTH ADVOCACY FOUNDATION GIFTS
$5,000 FOR THE WEEKEND BACKPACK PROGRAM
A generous gift of $5,000 from the Ozarks Health Advocacy Foundation (OHAF) will provide an additional 3,400 weekend meals to students facing hunger through the Weekend Backpack Program. OHAF provides support to local nonprofit agencies that address children’s critical physical, mental and dental health needs in the Ozarks. Since 2000, OHAF has donated more than $110,000 to support The Food Bank. Sincerest thanks to OHAF for helping children in need!
were
to nominate Tom and Marsha Slaight for this award.
chicken to Ozarks
HUNGER HERO NEWS
FEEDING FAMILIES ACROSS THE OZARKS
“When you’re a part of the community, it’s nice to help give to that community. I know if we had issues where we needed help, I would want people to help me. ”
JERALD AND STACY KOCH: MAKING A BIG IMPACT WITH SMALL ACTIONS
Jerald and Stacy Koch make sure to fill their spare time with things they love to do. For Jerald, that’s bicycling and Corvette car shows.
For Stacy, it’s walking and gardening. But the couple especially enjoys meaningful activities they can do together, like travelling – and now, volunteering at Ozarks Food Harvest.
The Kochs had been searching for a way to give back to the community that would fit their busy schedule when Stacy remembered Ozarks Food Harvest through her workplace at MidMissouri Bank, a partner in Ozarks Food Harvest’s annual Food Fight food drive. They decided to volunteer at The Food Bank and were wowed by the impact they could make with just three hours of their time.
Stacy shared, “A particularly powerful moment was the first time we came [to Ozarks Food Harvest] at the end of the volunteer session
where they literally told us how many pallets we did and how many meals that would provide.
That I thought was pretty eye-opening.”
Jerald and Stacy typically volunteer on Saturdays, a time slot dedicated to packing Weekend Backpacks and Senior Boxes. During a three-hour session, volunteers can put together an average of 150 backpacks or 600 senior boxes. That’s why they’re so important to the success of our programs.
Volunteers are also crucial to food rescue and efficient distribution to our neighbors facing hunger, which is what impressed Jerald. He shared, “For me, I think it was the tour [of The Food Bank] to realize that nothing goes to waste. Even bad produce; you give those to pig farmers.”
The impact of The Food Bank, big and small, is what keeps Jerald and Stacy coming back
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
to Ozarks Food Harvest. After hearing hunger statistics and stories of hope, they know their time is being spent effectively to help others. Now, they have a message for our readers.
“When you’re part of the community, it’s nice to help give to that community,” Stacy said. “I know if we had issues where we needed help, I would want people to help me. This is just something small we can do once a month on a Saturday.”
Jerald agreed, adding, “Just a little bit makes a big difference.”
Thank you, Jerald and Stacy, for spending your Saturdays helping others.
FULL CIRCLE GARDENS COLLECTS A RECORDBREAKING 78,000 POUNDS
This year, Glean Team volunteers helped our Full Circle Gardens program collect a recordbreaking 78,000 pounds of produce from partner growers and the Food Bank Farm! That number is still growing as last-minute gleans come in for the end of the year.
“While weather conditions and an extended growing season were contributing factors, this year’s record-breaking harvest is thanks to the community’s generosity,” said Alexa Poindexter, director of Full Circle Gardens at Ozarks Food Harvest.
The Food Bank Farm alone produced more than 14,000 pounds of produce thanks to volunteers who got their hands dirty planting and harvesting at the garden.
Glean Team volunteers also travelled to local farms and gardens to glean donations of excess
crops from partner growers. We’d like to extend a big thank you to the generous growers who donated their excess crops to The Food Bank this year. Some significant donations came from corn and potatoes at Second Baptist Victory Garden, multiple veggies from Families Through Faith, and a Halloween pumpkin glean at County Line Farm.
Part of Transforming Hunger into Hope is increasing access to food that doesn’t just help our neighbors survive; it helps them thrive. Fruits and vegetables are a crucial part of a healthy diet that neighbors facing hunger can’t always afford. Thank you to the volunteers, partner growers, incredible staff and everyone who helped provide a record amount of produce for our neighbors in need.
KRAFT HEINZ 33-YEAR PARTNERSHIP PROVIDES MEALS TO NEIGHBORS FACING HUNGER
For over 30 years, Kraft Heinz has partnered with Ozarks Food Harvest to help provide millions of meals for our neighbors facing hunger in southwest Missouri. Kraft Heinz’s generosity has been instrumental in fulfilling Ozarks Food Harvest’s mission to Transform Hunger into Hope.
Kraft Heinz’s mission is to make a sustainable, ethical impact while helping the world in healthy, responsible ways. Last fiscal year, Kraft Heinz donated 560,000 pounds of food – a value of more than $1 million. Donated foods included macaroni and cheese, Jell-O, hot dogs, cream cheese, cheese slices and Cool Whip. For many families facing hunger, these everyday staples may be out of reach.
In addition to food donations, Kraft Heinz has supported Ozarks Food Harvest through
financial donations and grants totaling $560,000.
In 2024, Kraft Heinz awarded The Food Bank more than $32,000 for the Weekend Backpack Program, which provides children facing hunger with a bag of nutritious food every weekend of the school year. This included a $25,000 grant, thanks to Feeding America.
In total, Kraft Heinz financial donations have helped provide more than 96,000 meals to children and families across the Ozarks this year.
Families are already stretching their budgets to afford the food they need. Ozarks Food Harvest could not continue providing meals to neighbors in need without dedicated partners like Kraft Heinz, especially this holiday season.
Thank you, Kraft Heinz, for making a sustainable, ethical impact in southwest Missouri.
– Stacy Koch, Volunteer
Jerald and Stacy Koch have volunteered more than 100 hours at The Food Bank.
