Tuesday, November 22, 2011
More than 1.6 Million Meals Raised to Fight Hunger in Oklahoma
OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin announced today that her second-annual “Feeding Oklahoma” food drive exceeded the goal of raising food and funds to provide 1 million meals for hungry Oklahoma families this holiday season. The food drive raised more than $233,000, collected more than 552,400 lbs of food, which will provide more than 1,627,000 meals. The 2011 food drive more than doubled the 700,000 meals provided during last year’s food drive.
“Oklahomans are the most caring and giving people around and they proved it by answering the call to participate in the ‘Feeding Oklahoma’ food drive,” Fallin said. “I want to thank all our generous corporate sponsors and everyone who brought in food items. Your willingness to help our families and neighbors embodies the ‘Oklahoma Spirit’ that makes our state such a special place to live.”
The “Feeding Oklahoma” food drive benefited the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, and its network of partner agencies across the state.
Food donation drop-off sites included: BancFirst locations statewide, the Oklahoma Farm Bureau, City National Banks, Bob Moore Autogroups, AT&T stores, Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores in the Oklahoma City metro area, and INTEGRIS. UPS picked up and delivered donations in the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metro areas.
In addition to food items, the food drive received significant monetary donations from: Chesapeake Energy, Farmers Insurance, ConocoPhillips, Homeland, Sandridge, UPS, BNSF, Tinker Federal Credit Union, The Oklahoman, BP, Globe Life & Accident, ONEOK and IBM.
Significant In-kind donations were received from: Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School, American Institute of Architects, Kids Against Hunger, Lopez Foods, Advanced Foods, Association of General Contractors, Devon Energy, Bar-S Foods, Mustang Fuel Corporation, Reasor’s Grocery, SpiritAero Systems, and University of Oklahoma students.
In all, more than 130 businesses across Oklahoma participated in the food drive.
“We want to thank Governor Fallin for joining the fight against hunger in our state,” said Rodney Bivens, executive director of the Regional Food Bank. “The Governor’s ‘Feeding Oklahoma’ initiative motivated Oklahomans to donate food and funds to help those who are struggling to keep food on their table this winter and the Oklahoma Food Banks are extremely grateful for the support.”
Oklahoma is the fifth-hungriest state in the nation, where one in four children is at risk of hunger every day. The Oklahoma Food Banks serve more than 150,000 people each week, yet it is still not enough to keep up with the increased demand.
“We are thankful for the Oklahomans who have made this year’s ‘Feeding Oklahoma’ food drive a success and their willingness to help those in need is a powerful response to the governor’s appeal,” said Sara Waggoner, executive director of the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. “Governor Fallin’s commitment to addressing hunger in Oklahoma has made a tremendous impact on those who are struggling this holiday season.”
For more information about hunger in Oklahoma, visit the Regional Food Bank online at www.regionalfoodbank.org or call (405) 972-1111, or visit the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma online at www.cfbeo.org or call (918) 585-2800.