WCMCA Agency receives capacity building grant from Ozarks Food Harvest

West Central Missouri Community Action Agency (“West Central”) recently received a capacity building grant thanks to Ozarks Food Harvest’s $1 million investment in agency infrastructure in southwest Missouri.
The grant funding will purchase equipment, which will help increase food storage capacity and feed families in St. Clair County. West Central was one of more than 70 organizations chosen by Ozarks Food Harvest to receive an agency capacity grant to assist with hunger-relief efforts.
“We are excited about this grant opportunity, which allows us to expand our Food Pantry,” said Jamie Oberly, Chief Community Services Officer. “Thank you, Ozark Food Harvest, for the opportunity to increase our capacity.”
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.
West Central helps people and communities reach their fullest potential by cultivating and coordinating resources, building partnerships, and advocating for change. Last year, West Central served over 23,000 people throughout the nine-county region with immediately needed services such as shelter, food, and energy assistance, as well as long-term solutions like education and job placement.
“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.”
West Central Missouri Community Action Agency
West Central envisions a region where people and communities are thriving. It is part of a national Community Action Network established in 1965 to help American families and communities overcome obstacles to poverty. Over 1,000 agencies across the country work every day to create opportunities and transform the lives of their neighbors making communities stronger and helping families across the US thrive. Learn more at www.wcmcaa.org, or visit us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WestCentralCares.
About Ozarks Food Harvest — The Food Bank
Ozarks Food Harvest is the Feeding America food bank for southwest Missouri, serving 270 charities across 28 Ozarks counties. The Food Bank reaches 50,000 individuals monthly and provides more than 20 million meals annually. Learn more at ozarksfoodharvest.org, facebook.com/ozarksfoodharvest or twitter.com/ozksfoodharvest.