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December 31, 2006 Ridewell Corporation and Rotary Clubs
of Springfield Sponsor Mobile Food Pantry Project for Ozarks Food Harvest Springfield, MO - Rotary Clubs of Springfield and Ridewell Corporation are partnering with Ozarks Food Harvest for The Food Bank's newest project, the Mobile Food Pantry. The new Mobile Food Pantry truck will allow Ozarks Food Harvest to increase food distribution across the 29 counties served by the food bank. Ozarks Food Harvest has experienced a 44 % increase in the number of people requesting food assistance from its 300 member charities over the past four years. The Mobile Food Pantry is designed to help meet the increased need for food. The Mobile Food Pantry will make it possible to distribute food directly to individuals without the need for a building. The program will help Ozarks Food Harvest serve communities that may not have existing food pantries or adequate facilities for food distribution. The five Rotary Clubs of Springfield and Ridewell Corporation have committed to raising funds for the purchase of two Mobile Food Pantry trucks and expenses for the first year of operation. The beverage style trucks have panel doors on both sides of the cargo trailers, which will make it easy for volunteers to distribute food directly from the truck. The trucks will be insulated, allowing the food bank to distribute fresh produce and other perishable food items which have limited shelf life. "Many of our member food pantries have limited cooler and freezer
space, and have difficulties distributing fresh produce, dairy, and frozen
food items, according to Bart Brown, executive director of Ozarks Food
Harvest. "However about thirty percent of the food donations we receive
require cooler or freezer storage. "This program will allow us to
distribute perishable food items to people right out of the truck. It
means more nutritious food on the table for the people who are most in
need." "The Springfield Rotary and Rotaract Clubs are excited to partner with Ozarks Food Harvest and Ridewell Corporation for the Mobile Food Pantry project. We are always looking for ways to work cooperatively with other organizations to address the needs of those in our community and beyond," said Tamara de Wild, Co-chair of the Rotary Mobile Food Pantry Steering Committee. "The Mobile Food Pantry will provide nutritious food to thousands of people in Southwest Missouri. Since one of the emphases of Rotary is to address the issue of hunger, this project is a great fit for us." Ridewell Corporation has pledged a substantial donation toward the program in honor of their 40th anniversary. The Springfield based company manufactures suspensions for the truck, trailer, bus and recreational vehicle industry. "We were looking for a way to honor the 40th anniversary of our company," according to John Raidel II, "and we wanted to do something that fulfilled a need in the community. This seemed to be a perfect fit because it helps to fill a community need and it relates to the transportation industry." The company was founded by his father, John Raidel Sr. in 1967. "We are so grateful to our partners from Rotary Clubs of Springfield
and Ridewell Corporation," said Michael Mattson, Board President
for Ozarks Food Harvest. "Their support has been overwhelming, and
will make it possible for us to distribute more nutritious fresh food
to meet the increasing demand for food assistance in our communities."
Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world. Approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 32,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Ridewell Suspensions manufactures suspensions for the truck, trailer, bus and recreational vehicle industries throughout the United States and the World.
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