Ozarks Food Harvest works with 60 local grocers to help feed families this holiday season
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, November 11, 2026
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Ozarks Food Harvest is partnering with more than 60 local grocers for the 28th annual Check Out Hunger campaign to help families provide nutritious meals for their loved ones this holiday season. From Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, shoppers can add $1, $3 or $5 tax-free donation to their grocery bill to support neighbors facing hunger.
Every dollar raised through Check Out Hunger will help provide $5 worth of groceries to children, families and seniors facing hunger in southwest Missouri. This year’s goal is to provide 100,000 meals through the Check Out Hunger campaign.
Participating grocers include Apple Market, Country Mart, Harter House, King Cash Saver, Price Cutter, Ramey, King Food Saver, Rhodes Family Price Chopper, Town & Country Supermarket, and Woods Supermarket. These grocery stores will also have Check Out Hunger signs at the checkout lanes.
When a customer decides to donate to the campaign, the cashier scans the donation barcode, and the tax-free gift is added to their grocery bill. The cashier also provides the customer a paper apple to sign and display at the store to show their support for hunger relief.
“The holiday season is often a difficult time for folks facing hunger, especially as the cost of living remains high,” said Bart Brown, president and CEO of Ozarks Food Harvest. “We’re so thankful for our local grocers and community that support folks facing hunger in southwest Missouri during Check Out Hunger.”
In southwest Missouri, 1 in 4 children and 1 in 5 adults face hunger, meaning they may not know where their next meal will come from. Ozarks Food Harvest reaches nearly 90,000 individuals monthly and provides more than 23 million meals annually across its 28-county service area.
Last year, Ozarks Food Harvest’s Check Out Hunger campaign raised nearly $60,000 to help provide more than 177,000 meals to children, families and seniors in southwest Missouri. Since 1998, the holiday campaign has helped provide 3.8 million meals to individuals and families in the Ozarks. Visit ozarksfoodharvest.org to learn more about the campaign.
