MEDIA ADVISORY

October 23, 2009
Kelly Richard, Public Relations Coordinator, (417) 865-3411 ext. 106 krichard@ozarksfoodharvest.org

Springfield Residents Lose For Good; Donate 1300 Pounds to Ozarks Food Harvest

Springfield, Mo. – Local Weight Watchers will make their donation of 1,300 pounds of food from the Lose for Good campaign to The Food Bank at 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 23 at the Weight Watchers on 2342 S. Campbell. 

As the local Weight Watchers members lost weight, they collected food for Ozarks Food Harvest to help their neighbors in need.  Within seven weeks, the group lost 4600 pounds, and collected 1300 pounds of donated food.

Food Bank Donation in Springfield, Missouri

• Date:  Friday, October 23rd 
• Time:  11:00 a.m.
• Place:  Weight Watchers Center, 2342 South Campbell, Springfield, MO
• What:  Local Weight Watchers members will make their official donation to Ozarks Food Harvest. The group has already collected 1300 pounds of food, while the members have lost more than 4600 pounds

“The Lose For Good campaign provides a chance for folks to adopt a healthier lifestyle, reduce their weight and help someone in need,” says Jan Land, Weight Watchers Territory Manager.  “Some members have brought in food donations equivalent to their weight loss so they can make sure their loss is someone else’s gain.”

Food banks across the nation are reporting that the demand for assistance has increased as much as 40% this year, leaving many food banks unable to fill their shelves and help those in need.   Early estimates show that Weight Watchers has reached its donation goal by losing approximately four million pounds across the country.  In addition, Weight Watchers staff and members participated in more than 3,300 voluntary food drives in meeting rooms throughout the country where they collected and donated an estimated two million pounds of food to local food banks.

Ozarks Food Harvest is the only food bank in southwest Missouri and serves more than 350 hunger relief organizations, reaching more than 55,000 people each month in 29 Ozarks counties.  OFH distributed seven million pounds of food during its last fiscal year—the highest distribution in The Food Bank’s 25-year history—made possible due to its network of charities and direct-relief programs such as the Weekend Backpack Program™, Kids Cafe® and the Mobile Food Pantry™ program.  Learn more at ozarksfoodharvest.org

For more information about the Lose for Good Donation, contact Kelly Richard, at (417) 865-3411.