Ozarks Food Harvest grocery campaign draws $27K

Ozarks Food Harvest received $27,000 through its annual Check Out Hunger campaign, in which 60 area grocery stores collected donations for the Springfield nonprofit hunger-relief organization.

Check Out Hunger gives shoppers the chance to add $1 tax-free donations to their grocery bills when checking out at select southwest Missouri grocery stores.

The campaign, which ran Nov. 15-Dec. 31, nearly doubled 2009's campaign total. The funding will help feed the approximately 20,000 clients in the 28 counties that OFH's food bank serves, according to a news release.

Price Cutter Plus, 3260 E. Battlefield Road, was the top-raising location at $2,038. The top cashier at the store was Pat Mavis, who collected donations from 1,329 customers.

Donation totals per grocery store chain were:

• Price Cutter (Bistro Market, Country Mart, Ramey, Smitty's): $15,105;
• Dillons: $6,000;
• Woods: $1,346;
• Harter House – Republic Road and Eastgate: $1,137;
• Murfin's Market: $901;
• Smillie's: $350; and
• Summer Fresh's totals are to be announced.

Source: www.ozarksfoodharvest.org

Nearly 40 communities participated in the event, according to the release.[[In-content Ad]]