By Lexi Spivak Published: Sep. 17, 2020 at 7:35 AM CDT| SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – With millions of Americans being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Salvation Army Springfield is starting it’s Red Kettle Campaign earlier than ever before on a virtual level to ensure the organization can be a beacon of help and hope for those in need. Salvation Army spokesperson … Read More
OACAC prepares for community back to school fair events
Published: Aug. 14, 2020 at 9:45 AM CDT SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – Heading back to school is going to look different this year for many people. The Ozark Area Community Action Cooperation (OACAC) is hoping to ease the transition with its annual back to school fair. The fair is in several of OACAC’s servicing counties across Southwest Missouri. Some counties will … Read More
Springfield’s Safe to Sleep women’s shelter reopens after COVID-19 shutdown
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3/KSPR) —Â The overnight women’s shelter Safe to Sleep is back open this week in Springfield. It had shutdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Safe to Sleep is an overnight shelter providing a safe place for women 18 and older who have no place to sleep. The first thing women will see when they walk in will be a … Read More
14th annual fan drive aims to keep people cool across the Ozarks
WEST PLAINS, Mo. —Â With the temperatures heating up, two groups are teaming up to cool down families across the Ozarks. “You got a day today that’s 90 degrees, so today would be a great day to help out and think about somebody that would need a fan,” West Plains Ace Hardware General Manager Jamie Joiner told KY3. Ace Hardware stores … Read More
Dairy Farmers of America donate dairy products to Ozarks Food Harvest
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Edited News Release) —Â At a time when many Americans are facing unprecedented hardships as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, the family farm-owners and employees of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), a national dairy cooperative, are stepping up to provide nutritious dairy products to those in need. In addition to hosting events such as drive-by milk giveaways at … Read More
Ozarks Food Harvest, National Guard team up to hand out food in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Hundreds of pantries in Springfield are full after Ozarks Food Harvest handed out meals to families Tuesday morning at Reed Academy. OFH is setting up mobile food distribution sites across town in an effort to help those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pantry had to suspend its volunteer program, so 45 members of the Missouri National … Read More
Community Foundation of the Ozarks issues second round of COVID-19 response & recovery grants
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Edited News Release) —Â The Community Foundation of the Ozarks awarded its second round of COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund grants totaling $80,000 for seven regional nonprofit agencies. The CFO announced an initial commitment of $1 million on March 20 for discretionary grantmaking by the CFO and its regional affiliate foundations. This commitment was made possible by CFO and … Read More
Local egg producer donates 300K eggs to Ozarks Food Harvest for Easter
Courtesy: Ozarks Food Harvest SPRINGFIELD, Mo. —Â Opal Foods, a local egg producer, made a generous donation to Ozarks Food Harvest ahead of Easter. The Springfield food bank received 302,400 eggs from Opal foods to help provide food-insecure families across the Ozarks with an Easter-themed meal option. Opal Foods has donated more than 3.6 million eggs since its first annual donation … Read More
Laura Farmer: Executive Director for CASA of Southwest Missouri
Meet Executive Director for CASA of Southwest Missouri, Laura Farmer. She explains after getting involved with Volunteer Ozarks, volunteer requests have quadrupled for CASA of SWMO, meaning they have helped more than 150 children in foster care who otherwise could have gone without needed assistance and guidance.
Becky Stengner: Lead Volunteer at Convoy of Hope
Becky Stegner now serves as Lead Volunteer at Convoy of Hope, and shares what it has been like volunteering at this nonprofit for more than 10 years.