Breaking the cycle of poverty
“’It started with a desire to feed our community because we have one of the highest poverty rates in Franklin County,’ Ross said.
In Ozark, 40.9% of people live below the poverty level according to the 2019 American Community Survey five-year estimates. This is almost double the 23% of people living below the poverty level in Franklin County.
Volunteers at the Ozark Church Food Pantry fed around 520 people or about 250 families during last month’s drive-through distribution. Ross said many of these families are on fixed incomes, such as grandparents raising grandchildren and those receiving disability benefits”