Children facing food insecurity in southwest Missouri could receive weekend meals through several fundraising events planned during Hunger Action Month in September.
Ozarks Food Harvest is asking residents, businesses and community organizations to support its Weekend Backpack Program, according to a community announcement. The program provides food for children experiencing hunger on weekends during the school year.
The campaign is part of Feeding America's nationwide Hunger Action Month effort and is presented locally by Central Bank. In southwest Missouri, one in four children and one in five adults face hunger, according to the announcement.
“Supporting children and families facing hunger in the Ozarks is only possible with the generosity of
our community,” Ozarks Food Harvest President and CEO Bart Brown said in the announcement. “As kids head back to school this fall, we’re urging our community to get involved in Hunger Action Month to ensure every child has access to consistent and nutritious meals each weekend of the school year.”
The nonprofit reports distributing more than 60,000 backpacks filled with food each year through the Weekend Backpack Program. Ozarks Food Harvest currently provides nearly 1,800 backpacks each week to 62 schools across southwest Missouri, including every elementary school in Springfield Public Schools.
A donation of $360 annually, or $30 per month, covers weekend meals for one child throughout the school year, according to the announcement.
Hunger Action Month events planned across Springfield
Several fundraising events are scheduled throughout September to benefit the Weekend Backpack Program:
Hungerthon with Zimmer Communications runs Sept. 11-14. Listeners can tune in to 98.7 The Dove, 93.7 The Stage, 96.9 The Jock, Real Country 101.3 and KWTO 93.3 FM/560 AM for matching-gift opportunities. Donations also can be made at ozarksfoodharvest.org.
Hungerthon Day at McDonald's is Sept. 14. Participating Springfield McDonald's restaurants will donate a portion of proceeds from purchases to the Weekend Backpack Program.
Go Orange Auction runs Sept. 17-21. Participants can bid on experience packages, gift baskets, restaurant meals and other items benefiting the program.
Empty Bowls Online runs Sept. 24-30. Supporters can purchase bowls created by local artists, with proceeds supporting the Weekend Backpack Program. An in-person bowl sale is planned from 3 to 7 p.m. Oct. 1 at Panera Bread, 4100 S. Campbell Ave. in Springfield.
More information about Hunger Action Month activities is available at hungeractionmonth.info.
This story was produced with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Ozarks Food Harvest seeks help feeding children this September
