November 2017
Agencies get creative for grant challenge
T
his year marks the eighth time that the Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program has awarded a pass-through grant to Ozarks Food Harvest to provide funding for its members. Agencies who apply and are selected then fundraise to receive the grant as a match. If The Food Bank selects a pantry to receive $5,000, the pantry must then raise an additional $5,000 to receive the full matching grant. Agencies have until Feb. 28 to meet this year’s match. Walmart has again donated $125,000 in grants to nonprofits selected by The Food Bank, and because of the power of this match grant, the total impact will be $250,000. Agencies are required to use the money to cover food costs when receiving food from OFH. Member Services can’t wait to hear the stories of how this year’s grant impacts the 66 agencies that were selected, but it is also inspiring to learn about the creative ways that agencies are asking their communities to get involved to help meet the match. Janet Mills is the director of the Cassville United Methodist Church food pantry. In order to meet the match she is planning Tinsel Tea, a Christmas holiday fundraiser. This event will include brunch and entertainment by the church bell choir and vocal performers. In addition, there will be an auction with baked goods. “Inspiration for the fundraiser stemmed out
IN THIS ISSUE
OZARKS FOOD HARVEST PRESIDENT/CEO BART BROWN ACCEPTS LAST YEAR’S CHECK FROM WALMART. THIS IS THE EIGHTH YEAR FOR THE PARTNERSHIP.
of a desire to draw many persons together,” Mills said. “Christmas is the time for giving, and people seek outlets for connecting their desire to help with a good cause. We meet that desire by setting the stage for a purposeful event which is advocating for fighting hunger.” Other pantries that were selected to receive the grant are planning events to meet the match. Project 360 Youth Services is in the preliminary stages of planning a bowling tournament, and the Korth Senior Center in El Dorado Springs is planning on raffling off a
Information about IRS Code 170(e)(3) End of the year reminders How TEFAP is vital to solve hunger Regional meeting topics vary
donated mountain bike in order to raise their funds. They plan on selling the raffle tickets at the senior center and at a local grocery store. The St. Vincent De Paul Society St. Joseph Food Pantry located in Billings aims to raise their funds in a variety of ways. This year, they plan on selling black walnuts, hosting a bake sale and planning a fundraiser with musical entertainment. Last year, this pantry’s community hosted a tractor pull that helped meet the match. Member Services wishes participating pantries the best of luck.