Monday, October 30, 2017
OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin’s annual Feeding Oklahoma Drive continues through tomorrow, Oct. 31, to raise financial and food donations to fight hunger in Oklahoma. In its seventh year, the month-long drive benefits the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma and their community-based partner agencies across the state.
“While many of us can’t imagine not knowing where our next meal is coming from, it’s a reality for thousands of Oklahomans,” said Fallin. “This drive is an opportunity for all Oklahomans to come together and donate food or funds to ensure our hungry neighbors have food on their table this winter. I know we can count on the giving spirit of our neighbors to help.”
To participate in the food and fund drive, click here. All donations are tax deductible and will benefit the one in six Oklahomans with inconsistent access to healthy food.
“The Feeding Oklahoma Drive shines a light on the issue of hunger in our state,” said Katie Fitzgerald, chief executive officer of the Regional Food Bank. “I want to offer a special thank you to the businesses and individuals who are participating in this drive. Together, we can solve hunger.”
Feeding Oklahoma is presented by: Chickasaw Nation; Devon Energy; ONEOK; and Walmart. Additional sponsors include: Dolese Bros. Co,; Bob Moore Auto Group,; ConocoPhillips,; Farmers Insurance Group of Companies,; Homeland;, INTEGRIS Health;, Lopez Foods,; Love's Travel Stops,; Nadel and Gussman Energy; and The Boeing Company.
Oklahoma is one of the hungriest states in the nation. The majority of those served by the Oklahoma Food Banks are chronically hungry children, seniors living on fixed incomes and hardworking families who struggle to make ends meet each month.
“This drive comes at a critical time of year before people start thinking about the needs of many of our hungry neighbors during the holidays,” said Eileen Bradshaw, executive director of the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. “We are grateful to Governor Fallin for addressing the issue of hunger in our state and mobilizing friends, businesses and organizations to provide healthy food for our neighbors struggling to put enough food on the table.”
Established in 1980, the Regional Food Bank is the state’s largest hunger-relief organization. Last fiscal year, the nonprofit distributed more than 52 million pounds of food and products through a network of more than 1,300 charitable feeding programs and schools in 53 central and western Oklahoma counties.
Last fiscal year, the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma distributed more than 24.7 million pounds of food and products, more than 32 percent of which was fresh produce. The Food Bank’s network of 465 Partner Programs includes: emergency food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, after-school programs, senior centers, and veterans initiatives in 24 eastern Oklahoma counties.
About the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma
The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma is the state’s largest hunger-relief organization and a member of Feeding America’s network of Food Banks. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit provides enough food to feed more than 136,000 hungry Oklahomans each week through a network of more than 1,300 schools and charitable feeding programs in 53 central and western Oklahoma counties. Since its inception in 1980, the Regional Food Bank has distributed more than 613 million pounds of food to feed Oklahoma’s hungry. For more information, click here.
About the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma
Founded in 1981, the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma is one of the largest, private hunger-relief organizations in Oklahoma. With branches in Tulsa and McAlester, it distributes donated items to 450 Partner Programs in 24 counties of eastern Oklahoma. These programs include emergency food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs, senior centers and veterans initiatives. In addition, the Food Bank helps raise public awareness about hunger and the role of food banking in alleviating hunger. For more information, click here.