Putting the Ozarks First: Ozarks Food Harvest continues fighting food insecurity

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Putting the Ozarks First food drive benefits Convoy of Hope, Crosslines and Ozarks Food Harvest.

“It really takes a community of nonprofits to solve the issue of hunger here in southwest Missouri,” said Jordan Browning with Ozarks Food Harvest.

These organizations work year-round to help families fight food insecurity, and a little money can go a long way.

“We can take just $1 donation and turn that into $10 worth of groceries so we can stretch that much, much further than any average citizen can,” Browning said.

Since 1984 Ozarks Food Harvest has served 28 counties with 20 million meals given out every year.

“Just this year we’re serving about 70,000 duplicated individuals each and every month,” Browning said. “That’s 20,000 more than we were doing during the height of the pandemic. And that’s just due to inflation and increased costs of housing and increased childcare expenses.”

Browning says one in seven children and adults are facing hunger.

“The issue of hunger isn’t something that’s taking place in some far-off land,” Browning said. “It’s happening right here in southwest Missouri.”

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