Ozarks Food Harvest makes push for 1M meals in 90 days

Springfield-based nonprofit Ozarks Food Harvest is committing to provide 1 million meals in 90 days as families' needs rise during the coronavirus pandemic.

President and CEO Bart Brown said a fundraiser is underway in an effort to bring in the $250,000 needed for 1 million meals. The nonprofit so far has raised $25,000, he said.

Brown added the goal of 1 million meals is a roughly 25% increase compared with the prior 90 days of distribution.

“The need is unprecedented, and we’re having dozens of trucks of food shipped in weekly, without regard to cost, to make sure no one goes hungry," he said in a news release.

Ozarks Food Harvest's sorting and packing efforts are being conducted via temporary workers after volunteer sessions were suspended over the coronavirus. A Missouri Foundation for Health grant allowed for the hiring of 30 temporary workers.

Ozarks Food Harvest serves 28 southwest Missouri counties, according to the release.