Organization makes $800,000 investment amid shutdown, SNAP delays

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Ozarks Food Harvest is responding to the longest federal shutdown in U.S. history with an $800,000 investment to help feed families, federal employees and people utilizing their network of 270 charities in southwest Missouri, including pantries in Texas County.

The Food Bank has purchased $500,000 in additional food, released $300,000 in grants to its network of charities and hosted drive-thru grocery giveaways for federal employees impacted by the shutdown. The grocery giveaways have provided for more than 1,200 people so far.

“We’re treating this shutdown like a disaster, and we will provide support as long as it’s needed,” said Bart Brown, president and CEO of Ozarks Food Harvest. “We want to ensure families don’t have to worry about putting food on the table during this crisis.”

In The Food Bank’s 28-county service area, which includes Texas County, nearly 23,000 federal employees and 135,000 SNAP recipients may be affected by the government shutdown.

To meet the increased demand for food, Ozarks Food Harvest is asking for community support. Thanks to a $40,000 matching gift from Community Foundation of the Ozarks, the Darr Family Foundation and the Musgrave Foundation, every $1 donated will provide $20 worth of groceries until the match is met at ozarksfoodharvest.org/donate-federal-shutdown.