Ozarks Food Harvest distribution trails prior fiscal year

Ozarks Food Harvest's fiscal 2022 food distribution dropped from the prior year, with an official citing the end of COVID-19 relief measures that provided extra food.

During fiscal 2022, which ended June 30, the Springfield nonprofit provided roughly 20 million meals through its network of community and faith-based charities across a third of the Show-Me State, according to a news release.

Ozarks Food Harvest distributed 23 million meals in fiscal 2021, said Public Information Officer Jordan Browning. He cited the end of federal COVID-19 relief measures that led to the nonprofit receiving 42% less U.S. Department of Agriculture food in fiscal 2022 compared with the prior year. Before the pandemic, the food bank’s annual distribution to its network averaged 18 million-20 million meals, according to past reporting.

During fiscal 2022, Ozarks Food Harvest spent more than $2.5 million on food purchases, roughly $500,000 more than in fiscal 2021, according to the release. More than 900,000 meals during the most recent fiscal year were distributed through mobile food pantries.

“Even as many people return to work, the demand is still high for food assistance in southwest Missouri," said Tommy Wohlgemuth, chief financial officer and chief operations officer at SGC Foodservice and Ozarks Food Harvest’s outgoing board president, in the release. "The board recognizes that further investments in our community will be necessary to get families on the road to recovery.”

The nonprofit's retail pick-up program, which coordinates donations through more than 140 grocers each week, had a record-breaking year by saving 7 million pounds of edible food from being wasted.

“Our work has been more important than ever in the past year as folks continue to deal with increased prices for food,” said Bart Brown, president and CEO of Ozarks Food Harvest, in the release. “We’re in it for the long haul to ensure children, families and seniors don’t have to worry about where their next meal will come from.”

Ozarks Food Harvest serves 50,000 unduplicated children, families and older adults each month through its 270-charity network.