All About the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma - MetroFamily Magazine
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All About the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma

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Angie Gaines is the Marketing Manager at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. She has been with the organization for more than two years. Before moving to Oklahoma City three years ago, Angie work at TurboTax.

Name of Organization:
Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma
3355 S. Purdue, Oklahoma City, OK 73137-0968
405.972.1111
regionalfoodbank.org

What led you to work for this nonprofit?
I wanted to help make a positive impact on my community. As soon as I learned more about the Regional Food Bank, I knew that I was meant to work here. I’m very passionate about helping fight hunger in Oklahoma!

What was your best day so far?
Every day is a good day at the Regional Food Bank because I know that I’m helping make a difference in the life of a hungry Oklahoman. It’s hard to choose the best day, but I think that one of them was when I interviewed some elementary school kids that benefit from our Food for Kids program, and what they liked about the program.

Describe the mission of your non-profit:
Our mission is to help the charitable community effectively feed people in need. 500,000 Oklahomans will wake up today and wonder where their next meal will come from. Oklahoma ranks as the sixth hungriest state in the nation, but thanks to donors, volunteers and advocates, the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma is "Fighting Hunger…Feeding Hope." Established in 1980, the Regional Food Bank is the largest private hunger-relief organization in the state of Oklahoma. The Regional Food Bank’s administrative costs are below 4 percent, which means 96 cents of every dollar donated helps to directly provide food to Oklahomans in need

How does it impact families and children, whether locally or elsewhere?
In Fiscal Year 2010, the Regional Food Bank distributed 36.5 million pounds of food through a network of more than 700 charitable feeding programs and elementary schools, in 53 central and western Oklahoma counties. Most of those served by the Regional Food Bank are families, children, and seniors. Each week, we provide enough food to feed more than 77,000 hungry Oklahomans – nearly half of which are children.

What drives you to make this non-profit a success?
Twenty percent of children struggle with hunger each day. No child should have to go to be hungry.

What success stories or accomplishments has this non-profit achieved?
Food for Kids, a program of the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, helps combat childhood hunger. According to a recent survey of children on Food for Kids, 77% of the children indicated that, without Food for Kids, they would run out of food at home or have less food than they needed. According to a recent survey of Food for Kids coordinators 92.4% saw fewer complaints about hunger by children who participated in Food for Kids.

According to one Food for Kids coordinator:
“We have a child who was referred by her teacher. The child and her sister live with dad. Mom was killed a few years ago in a car accident. Dad does the best that he can working and caring for them. He makes ends meet, but barely. Toward the end of the month food is scarce. Since beginning the backpack program the girls are so excited to pick up the pack each Friday. We don’t have to remind them because they never forget. This bag gives them the food they need to be healthy and active on the weekends. This food has made such a difference in their well being and has eliminated the food insecurity in their home.”

How can families and children help this non-profit?
· Volunteer
· Donate food and funds
· Advocate – become a friend of the Food Bank

What volunteer opportunities are available to families and children (what age ofchild)?

  • Last year, thousands of volunteers donated more than 64,000 hours of service, saving the Regional Food Bank $1 million in labor!
  • Volunteers help the Regional Food Bank fulfill its mission of helping the charitable community through volunteering in product recovery, at special events, as hunger heroes and a variety of other opportunities.
  • Children must be at least 8 years and come with an adult.
  • Contact Jtreadaway@regionalfoodbank.org or 405-600-3154 for more information
  • Volunteer Hours:
    • Weekdays 9:00 a.m. until noon and 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.
    • Thursday evenings 6:00 p.m. until 9 p.m.
    • Saturdays 9:00 a.m. until noon and 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.
    • Sundays and other weekdays by appointment

What types of donations are needed, monetary and/or items?

  • $1 donation will provide seven meals to hungry Oklahomans! Make a donation online at regionalfoodbank.org or call 405.972.1111
  • Most needed canned food items include:
    • Canned meat
    • Canned vegetables
    • Canned fruit
    • Canned tuna
    • Peanut butter

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