The Cassville Pantry recently received a $30,000 capacity building grant as part of the Ozarks Food Harvest’s $1 million investment in agency infrastructure in southwest Missouri.
The grant funding will purchase a walk-in cooler, which will help increase perishable food storage capacity for fresh produce, dairy and meat products and assist the Pantry’s ability to feed food insecure families in Barry County. Cassville Pantry was one of more than 70 organizations chosen by Ozarks Food Harvest to receive an agency capacity grant to assist with hunger-relief efforts.
“This grant is a significant boost to our agency’s ability to manage a higher level of perishable food inventory,” said Janet Mills, Pantry director. “It is a tremendous blessing, as the children, families and seniors we serve are dealing with difficult economic challenges of inflation and cost of living increases. Thanks to Ozarks Food Harvest, we will have the ability to store and distribut our offerings to include more nutritious foods including produce and dairy products. The cooler is on order from the manufacturer and we hope to have it installed by September 2022.”
Ozarks Food Harvest is the Feeding America food bank for southwest Missouri, serving 270 charities across 28 Ozarks counties. This capacity building investment is part of The Food Bank’s multi-faceted strategy to address needs identified in Missouri’s Food Assistance and Hunger in the Heartland 2021 report conducted by the MU Interdisciplinary Center for Food Security.
“These grant funds are an investment in the future of our community’s food system,” said Bart Brown, president/CEO of Ozarks Food Harvest. “Increasing access to food is key as our network of hunger-relief charities continue to deal with the expanding cost of food and fuel.”
Cassville Pantry has seen an alarming and increasing level of demand upon our resources in the past two months. The challenge to put healthy food on the table for many will be an ongoing obstacle looking ahead navigating the prospective economic climate.
“Our visitor numbers have been escalating over the same time in previous years,” Mills said. “In a typical morning we are serving an average of 30 households daily. About 450 families per month are utilizing the weekday Pantry program for food assistance. Through all of the agency’s programs combined, Cassville Pantry is serving 725 families comprised of 1,400 individuals with a food box each month.
“A total of 40 percent of our visitors are elderly or disabled persons on fixed incomes who are really struggling with the increased cost of groceries. We need the support of the community to allow us to continue to provide these services. Donations can be made online, in person, or mailed to 800 W. 10th St. Cassville, MO 65625.”
Cassville Pantry’s motto is, “A place where the Hungry will not be forgotten.” Its programs are a refuge of help for the food insecure.
“We have served our Barry County neighbors in need of food assistance for the past 21 years,” Mills said. “We nourish our neighbors facing hunger with healthy food, hope, and community.
For more information, people may call 417-846-7871, or visit www.cassvillepantry.com or www.facebook.com/cassville.pantry.
