Ozarks Food Harvest is partnering with more than 60 local grocers for the 27th annual Check Out Hunger campaign to help families provide plentiful meals for their loved ones this holiday season. The campaign begins Nov. 1 and continues through Dec. 31.
Customers can round-up or add a $1, $3 or $5 tax-free donation to their grocery bill when checking out at local retailers. Every dollar raised through Check Out Hunger will help provide $10 worth of groceries to children, families and seniors facing hunger in southwest Missouri. This year’s goal is to raise 150,000 meals through the Check Out Hunger campaign.
Participating grocers include Apple Market, Country Mart, Harter House, King Cash Saver, King Food Saver, Price Cutter, Ramey, Rhodes Family Price Chopper, Town & Country Supermarket, and Woods Supermarket. These grocery stores will also have Check Out Hunger signs at the checkout lanes.
When a customer decides to donate to the campaign, the cashier scans the donation barcode and the tax-free gift is added to their grocery bill. The cashier also provides the customer a paper apple to sign and display at the store to show their support for hunger relief.
“This holiday season will be especially challenging for families facing hunger,” said Bart Brown, CEO and president of Ozarks Food Harvest. “As the government shutdown continues, we’re working to ensure everyone can put a meal on the table. We’re incredibly grateful for local grocery stores and community members who have come together to help ensure families have access to the food they need this holiday season.”
In southwest Missouri, 1 in 5 children and 1 in 6 adults are facing hunger, meaning they don’t know where their next meal will come from. Ozarks Food Harvest reaches nearly 70,000 individuals monthly and provides more than 21 million meals annually across its 28-county service area.
Last year, Ozarks Food Harvest’s Check Out Hunger campaign raised $50,000 to help provide more than 141,000 meals to children, families and seniors in southwest Missouri. Since 1998, the holiday campaign has helped provide nearly 3.9 million meals to individuals and families in the Ozarks.
