SPRING 2015 HARVEST TIME OZARKS FOOD HARVEST – THE FOOD BANK NEWSLETTER FROM THE O’REILLY CENTER FOR HUNGER RELIEF The land at Ozarks Natural Foods now serves as a home base for the Glean Team. GARDENS PROGRAM Glean Team volunteers and Food Bank staff prepared the beds for crops in early March and began planting within the month. Between the high tunnel and raised beds, INCREASES PRODUCE Ozarks Food Harvest hopes to grow between 5,000 and 10,000 pounds of produce. Full Circle Gardens was fresh fruits and vegetables. For the people that rely on Ozarks Food The Hunger in America 2014 study reported Harvest, more produce means healthier, program receives donated that 84 percent of OFH clients surveyed have home cooked meals. purchased inexpensive or unhealthy food “I am so excited to have this, because I had land to grow produce when expenses were tight. Those same clients to struggle with fixing something for supper said that the most desired item from The Food last night,” Pamela said after receiving food When there isn’t enough money for Bank was produce. from the mobile pantry. “We had one apple groceries to last to the end of the month, That awareness of the need for more left and Cage got that last night, so this is struggling families often turn to less produce, and the success of the Glean Team very, very important.” expensive, unhealthy food options. harvesting 20,000 pounds of produce from If you have a garden, consider planting For Pamela and her family, fresh fruit and area farms in the 2014 season, prompted an an extra row for Ozarks Food Harvest, and if vegetables are always the first things to go OFH Board member to get involved with a you are a farmer, contact The Food Bank if when money is tight. unique donation. you have extra crops for the Glean Team to “I just can’t afford it,” she shared at a recent Board Secretary Dr. Meera Scarrow, and her harvest. Together we can provide nutritious, Ozarks Food Harvest Mobile Food Pantry husband, Dr. Alan Scarrow, co-own Ozarks healthy food to people who are struggling distribution in Springfield. “It’s hard on Natural Foods, a farm east of Springfield, with hunger in the Ozarks. everyone.” where they produce sustainably-raised beef. Pamela, 59, lives off disability benefits and The couple had set up 76 raised beds and just last month took on the responsibility of a high tunnel at the farm, but were unable to caring for her grandson, Cage. As a diabetic, use it for mass production. she knows that it’s crucial to watch her diet and “It’s not something we felt we eat unprocessed foods as often as possible. were ever going to develop,” Meera Scarrow said. “My thought with bringing the land to The Food Bank “Hopefully with this help I can give was increasing produce production, Cage healthy meals and actually being the backbone of the Glean be able to cook meals.” Team and increasing awareness of farmers.” -Pamela, 59, OFH client The donation of land comes just as OFH re-launched Full “For me, it’s the most important because it Circle Gardens. The program gives you the healthiest benefits and it’s fresh. helps strengthen the local food It’s everything to me because of my health,” system by rescuing fresh produce she said of the box of produce she received for those in need, harvesting from Ozarks Food Harvest. “Hopefully with donors’ fields and gardens and this help I can give Cage healthy meals and providing assistance through actually be able to cook meals.” community partnerships to Ozarks Food Harvest is committed to teach clients how to grow their providing the most nutritious food possible. own food supply. More than 20 percent of the nearly 16 million pounds of food distributed in the last year ozarksfoodharvest.org CHECK OUT HUNGER SETS RECORD Eighty grocery stores partnered with Ozarks Food Harvest during the holidays to help Check Out Hunger, collecting a record $49,786 in check-out lanes across the Ozarks. “While this campaign runs in November and December, we don’t receive all the checks until January and February — but it’s an ideal time for us to receive this kind of gift, because donations drop just after the holiday season,” said Denise Gibson, Development and Communication Director at Ozarks Food Harvest. “This is a record-breaking year for this fundraiser and we’re happy to say now that the final check is in, we’ll be able to provide about 250,000 more meals for our OPAL FOODS DONATED 151,200 EGGS, OR 12,600 CARTONS, TO OZARKS FOOD HARVEST ON MARCH 31. neighbors who struggle with hunger.” Check Out Hunger gives shoppers in more than 50 communities the opportunity to add a $1, $3 or $5 tax-free donation to their bill FARMERS DONATE when checking out at area grocers, including Akin's, Bistro Market, Cash Saver, Country Mart, Dillons, Harter House, HyVee, Murfin's Market, Pennington’s, Price Cutter, Ramey, 150,000 EGGS Rhodes Family Price Chopper, Richards Supermarket, Smitty's, Summer Fresh, Town & Country and Woods Supermarket. Ozarks families receive The funds raised during the 16th annual protein-rich eggs right campaign will help feed those who access services from Ozarks Food Harvest’s 200 before Easter member food pantries and hunger-relief programs in 28 southwest Missouri counties. Just in time for Easter, Ozarks Food Harvest Every dollar donated to The Food Bank received a donation of 151,200 eggs from provides five meals for those in need. Opal Foods, headquartered in Neosho. Last year, Check Out Hunger raised $36,500. The Food Bank has received half a million This year’s goal was $40,000. Since 1998, the eggs from Opal Foods since the partnership grocer-food bank partnership has collected began in 2008. more than $320,000. “Eggs are a really important food source for us,” said OFH President/CEO Bart Brown. “Eggs are a great source of protein, and protein is something we don’t get a lot of here in the warehouse. And it’s one of our most requested food items. These eggs will go out to people in our 28 counties, and they’ll all be out in just a matter of weeks.” OFH HAS RECIEVED A DONATION FROM OPAL FOODS Amy Simmons, Customer Service Manager EVERY YEAR SINCE 2008. for Opal Foods, said this donation is an anticipated event every year for the company. the clients it serves. “We really appreciate that Ozarks Food “It’s going to be a great Easter for folks all Harvest is committed to the entire region. We across the Ozarks,” he said. like that they service the entire 28 counties Simmons said Opal Foods always strives to in southwest Missouri,” she said. “Opal Foods better its communities through donations. is based in Neosho, so that means they reach “It’s one of our commitments at Opal Foods into our territory as well, so it’s a real pleasure to build our communities," she said. "We’re to partner with them.” really happy that we can partner with Ozarks CHECK OUT HUNGER 2014 RAISED A RECORD Brown said the annual donation was not Food Harvest to Transform Hunger into Hope $49,786, EXCEEDING ITS $40,000 GOAL. only important to The Food Bank, but also to this Easter.” 2 Transforming Hunger into Hope™ for more than 30 years AWARD HIGHLIGHTS THE FOOD BANK'S GOOD WORK Greetings from the O’Reilly Center for Ozarks Food Harvest scored 99.7 out of 100 Hunger Relief! I’m pleased to share with you possible points on its rating, and notably was CHARLIE O'REILLY, the good news The Food Bank received last awarded a perfect 100 for its accountability O'REILLY CENTER month — for the third consecutive year, and transparency on how charitable gifts Ozarks Food Harvest was awarded the highest are used and tracked. Consider this along possible rating from Charity Navigator. with the fact that 96 cents out of every $1 CHARLIE'S Only 12 percent of charities in the country donated to Ozarks Food Harvest is used for have received four star ratings for three food distribution and programs, and every $1 consecutive years. This honor comes from the donated can be leveraged to distribute $10 of CORNER leading nonprofit corporation that evaluates food, and you have one of the most powerful charities across the country. stewards of your gifts in the nation. I have always known that Ozarks Food full-time jobs to support six children, but Harvest is a reputable charity with high sometimes the paychecks don’t cut it. performance standards — that’s why I’m Bobbie shared, “Food is our biggest proud to support this organization. A expense. We spend more on groceries than distinction like this affirms the good work we do on our house payment in a months’ happening every day at The Food Bank and its time, so this is awesome. This will help.” network of hunger-relief agencies. In the last 12 months, Ozarks Food Harvest This honor not only demonstrates has distributed more than 16 million pounds Ozarks Food Harvest’s transparency, good of food, providing 13.6 million meals. governance and sound fiscal standing — it That increase in distribution means hard- means The Food Bank is doing everything working moms, like Bobbie, don’t have to it can to solve hunger in the Ozarks and is skip a meal so their kids can eat. Children will nationally recognized as a leader for its efforts.