New refrigerated truck will help feed southwest Missouri families
Ozarks Food Harvest has added a refrigerated truck to expand its ability to deliver fresh and perishable food to people facing hunger across southwest Missouri. The Springfield-based Feeding America food bank received the vehicle through a collaboration between the Darden Restaurants Inc. Foundation and Penske, according to a community announcement. The truck will serve Ozarks Food Harvest's 28-county service area. Food bank drivers travel more than 265,000 miles each year to pick up and deliver food. The new truck will transport fresh produce, dairy products and other perishable foods and joins a fleet of 15 semi-trucks, three box trucks and four cargo vans. Ozarks Food Harvest said that the truck arrives as its existing fleet ages and maintenance costs increase. "As food and fuel costs remain high in southwest Missouri, we're working hard to meet the increased demand in our 28-county service area," President and CEO Bart Brown said in the announcement. "Thanks to this new refrigerated truck, we can expand access to fresh, nutritious food for families facing hunger." Partnership supports seven food banks Ozarks Food Harvest is one of seven Feeding America partner food banks receiving support through a grant from the Darden Restaurants Inc. Foundation and Penske
