Nearly $253K raised in annual Hungerthon fundraiser

The 26th annual Hungerthon fundraiser brought in nearly $253,000 for Ozarks Food Harvest Inc.

The fundraising event, held Sept. 6-9, raised $252,700 to support Ozarks Food Harvest’s Weekend Backpack Program that provides food for children, according to a news release. The Springfield radio stations of iHeartRadio partnered with Ozarks Food Harvest on the radiothon.

“Each person who donated to Ozarks Food Harvest’s Weekend Backpack Program made a difference to a child facing hunger throughout the school year, and we’re so thankful for their support and the opportunity to work with Ozarks Food Harvest to make Hungerthon happen,” said Clint “Girlie” Gerlek, vice president of programming for iHeartRadio and Hungerthon host, in the release.

The funding will provide weekend meals for 702 children in southwest Missouri, officials say. The program supports kids when school meals aren't available.

This year's Hungerthon total was just short of last year's $252,900 and also below the 2022 record of $260,422, according to past reporting.

The release indicates Hungerthon has raised $3.3 million to provide 2.3 million meals in aggregate since starting in 1999.