Winter 2012 - Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma

THE
LINK
“Fighting Hunger...Feeding Hope” Chesapeake Energy
will m a t c h y o u r holiday
g i f t ... s e e i n s i d e !
Thank You for Bringing Hope to
Families This Holiday Season!
HOLIDAY
2012
Dear Friend,
Rodney W. Bivens
Executive Director
check out page 4 for details on
chesapeake Energy’s $1 million
holiday matching gift challenge!
FoodLink Board of Directors
OFFICERS:
Chair
Tony Boghetich, Omar B. Milligan Enterprises
Vice Chair
Marian Moon, Community Leader
Secretary
Sherri Price, Community Leader
BOARD MEMBERS:
Robert H. Clements, Clements Foods Company
Pat Garrett, Garrett & Company
Peggy Garrett, Urban Mission
James R. Hopper, Oklahoma Restaurant Association
Tressa Madden, Okie City Custom Cycles
Sharon Neuwald, Department of Human
Services (Ret.)
John Williams, Chefs Requested Foods, Inc.
2
The holiday season is a time of year when our thoughts
turn to spending time with family and friends; sharing
stories and laughter; eating special holiday treats; and giving
thanks for what we have. It is a time when communities
come alive with the joy of the season – holiday lights, The
Nutcracker ballet, ice skating and the B.C. Clark jingle.
We have been very fortunate that our state has not
experienced the extreme downturn that other parts of
our country have. The revitalization of Oklahoma City has
boosted the economy and improved the quality of life for
many. Yet, there is another side to this story.
There are many in our city and state who do not know
if they will have food to share with their family. As you
read the following pages, you will begin to understand that
hunger can happen to anyone. Our neighbors who have
stable jobs and thriving families today could be in line at a
food pantry tomorrow because of job loss, death, illness –
unforeseen circumstances that change the situations of our
neighbors every day.
I hope you believe as I do that no one should go
hungry, especially during the holiday season. We must do
everything we can to ensure that Oklahomans have access
to food, regardless of their circumstances.
Thank you for helping provide food for our neighbors
who struggle with hunger. You make a difference in so many
lives, bringing hope to countless individuals and families.
Regional Food Bank Foundation
Board of Directors
OFFICERS:
Chair
G. Rainey Williams, Marco Capital Group, ALP
Vice Chair
Cindy Batt, Bank of Oklahoma
Treasurer
Dennis Brand, BancFirst
Secretary
Isabel Chancellor, IngenuitE, Inc.
BOARD MEMBERS:
Robert H. Clements, Clements Food Company
Kyle Essmiller, PostRock Energy Corporation
Derek B. Gill, First United Bank
Ray Haefele, Tyson Foods (Ret.)
Jim Jarrett, Oklahoma Natural Gas
Holly Luke, Walmart Stores, Inc. (Region 44)
Tony Maranto, EOG Resources, Inc.
Marian Moon, Community Leader
Xavier Neira, Rooney Holdings, Inc.
Christina Nihira, Freelance Writer
Avis Scaramucci, Nonna’s Euro-American Ristorante
Marian Tisdal, Community Leader
Vince White, Devon Energy
Gail Wynne, Carlisle Collection
Legal Counsel
Michael E. Joseph, McAfee & Taft
Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma
Board of Directors
Officers:
Chair
Jim Kimble, Jasco Products
Vice Chair
Phil Cook, Devon Energy Corporation
Treasurer
James R. Hopper, Oklahoma Restaurant Association
Secretary
Brecklyn Ferrell, Lopez Foods Incorporated
BOARD MEMBERS:
Mark Brewer, Seagate Technology
Jim Brooks, Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural
Products Center
Jerry Dyer, Natural Water Company
Wayne Epperson, Fleming Foods (Ret.)
Sam Erwin, U.S. Foodservice
Peggy Garrett, Urban Mission
Ray Hankins, Office of State Finance, Information
Services Division
Ray Haefele, Tyson Foods (Ret.)
Mark Harsha, Alliance Harsha Advertising
Clydene Howard, Walmart Supercenters (OKC)
Dave Koeneke, Oklahoma Safety Council
Rob McLaughlin, Advance Food Company
Jeff Pedersen, Associated Wholesale Grocers
Kirk Purnell, Ben E. Keith
Avis Scaramucci, Nonna’s Euro-American Ristorante
A r v ella
Thank You
for Relieving
Hardworking
Parents
With rent, bills, school loan payments
and living expenses for two teenage boys on
a single income, Arvella’s paycheck is almost
entirely gone before it even makes it to her
bank account. She works as a phlebotomist
and truly enjoys her job, but it’s difficult to
make her paychecks stretch to cover all her
family’s needs.
It’s just recently that Arvella has started
having trouble affording enough food for
her family. She was beyond grateful to
find a little extra help with groceries at
Reaching Our City’s Tulakes Pantry in her
neighborhood in northern Oklahoma City.
Twice now she’s been able to take home
fresh produce, milk, pasta and chicken to
keep her sons full and focused.
Arvella’s boys are very bright and hard
workers. Trey, 17, did so well on his ACT that
he’s been asked to apply for scholarships to
prestigious Ivy League schools. Daryon, 13,
gets good grades and is a stellar athlete.
“I’m very, very proud,” Arvella says,
her eyes brimming with tears. “They’re
good boys.”
Working in the healthcare field,
she knows even short blocks of time
without meals can slow Trey and Daryon’s
development and hinder their ability to
thrive. She couldn’t be more grateful to have
your help feeding her sons.
“I appreciate it,” she says with deep
emotion evident in her voice. “I don’t look
for handouts, but this really helps me.”
Arvella’s looking forward to preparing
a hearty Thanksgiving supper for the boys.
She’s so glad you choose to give – especially
during the holidays – so families like hers can
enjoy a special meal together.
Regional Food Bank friends like you are
such a comfort to parents in need. Thank you
so much for your compassion and generosity.
3
Save the Date
Make your gift go twice as far!
Thanks to the incredible generosity of Chesapeake Energy,
every gift to the Regional Food Bank between November 15
and January 15 will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to
$1 million! This is an opportunity for your gift to have twice
the impact on the fight against hunger in Oklahoma.
Bedlam Food Fight | November 19
Join Magic 104.1 KMGL on Monday, November 19 from
5:30 to 8:30 a.m. for the University of Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma
State University Bedlam Food Fight! Put your money where
you team spirit is and drop your donation in the OU or OSU
collection box. The real winners are the hungry Oklahomans
who will have food because of your generosity. Listen to Magic
104.1 for details.
Kraft Huddle to Fight Hunger | Now through December 31
Make a donation through Kraft Huddle to Fight Hunger and
you could win a year’s supply of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese.
For more information visit facebook.com/KraftFightHunger.
Chefs’ Feast | March 28, 2013
Join us for our 26th annual Chefs’ Feast, presented by
Chesapeake Energy Corporation, at the National Cowboy and
Western Heritage Museum. This food and wine tasting event
benefits the Regional Food Bank’s childhood hunger programs.
To reserve your patron table, contact Angie Gaines at
(405) 604-7109 or [email protected].
YOU MAKE THE
HOLIDAYS BRIGHT
Thank You
Beef for Backpacks
Thank you to the Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation,
Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Oklahoma Beef Council and OSU Food
and Agricultural Products Center! Their Beef for Backpacks
program will use donated livestock to produce nutritious beef
sticks for the Food for Kids Backpack Program.
Devon Energy Holiday Care & Share Boxes
Thank you, Devon Energy Corporation, for providing 825
Holiday Care and Share food boxes for distribution in Hinton,
Geary, Watonga, Stuart, Calvin, Mulhall, Orlando and Taloga in
November and December. Devon employees, who volunteer
at each distribution, make sure families have everything they
need for a nutritious holiday meal.
Oklahoma’s Own Ride Against Childhood Hunger
4
The second annual motorcycle ride, hosted by Griffin
Communications, was held September 23. Presented by the
Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma and the Made in
Oklahoma Coalition, the ride raised nearly $110,000 for the
Food for Kids programs. More than 250 riders joined News 9’s
Stan Miller for the ride from Oklahoma City to Forman HarleyDavidson in Stillwater. Thank you to all the riders, sponsors and
volunteers who helped make this event such a success!
House of Cans
Make a canned food donation between now and December 14
at Home Creations communities in Edmond, Piedmont, Yukon,
Mustang, Midwest City, Moore and Norman. Your donation
will be used to build a house of cans and will then be donated
to the Regional Food Bank! For a complete list of locations, visit
www.HomeCreations.com/HouseOfCans.
Students Against Hunger
The Students Against Hunger Food Drive wrapped up
November 9 after more than 180 metro and rural elementary,
middle and high schools participated in this annual youth-driven
food drive. Results from the food drive will be posted on our
website as soon as all the food is collected and weighed. Thank
you to the Young Lawyers Association, Chesapeake Energy and
Devon Energy for sponsoring this event.
Take a Bite Out of Hunger
Thanks to everyone who participated in the Jewish
Community’s third annual volunteer event at the Regional
Food Bank September 30. More than 150 volunteers worked
to provide enough food for 30,000 meals. The event was
successful in large part because of the support from Rabbi
Cohen, Rabbi Goldman, Rabbi Jacobson and the Jewish
Federation of Greater Oklahoma City. Thank you!
AWG Golf Tournament
Thank you to Associated Wholesale Grocers for donating the
proceeds from their annual golf tournament to the Regional
Food Bank! More than $10,000 was raised in September.
City, State and Federal Employees
We would like to thank all the dedicated city, state and
federal employees who participated in their workplace
giving campaigns. The money raised through these
campaigns provides us with sustainable funding to feed
hungry Oklahomans. Remember, our Designation Code for
the Combined Federal Campaign is 67922. Our Designation
Code for the State Charitable Campaign and the Heart of the
City Campaign is 9220. We look forward to reporting on the
success of these three campaigns!
Crest 24th Invitational Golf Tournament
The Crest 24th Annual Invitational Golf Tournament raised
$60,000 and donated more than seven truckloads of food to
the Regional Food Bank. Thank you Crest!
Governor Fallin’s Feeding Oklahoma Food Drive
A big thank you to Governor Fallin and everyone who joined
in to help our hungry neighbors this holiday season! Last
year’s Feeding Oklahoma Food and Fund Drive raised enough
to provide more than 1.8 million meals for our Oklahoma
neighbors. Results of this year’s food and fund drive will be
posted on feedoklahoma.org.
5
You’re Bringing Hope To Families In Need
Darlene,
Stephen &
Gerry Lynn
Stephen shares a cramped apartment in
Lawton with his mother, Darlene, and aunt,
Gerry Lynn. Darlene uses a prosthetic leg
and has a hard time getting around – even
walking short distances drains her energy
and causes her pain. Gerry Lynn is also in
poor health.
Right now, the trio’s sole income is
Darlene’s monthly disability check. Stephen
served three years in the Army and was
working at a call center until he was laid
off last summer. He’s trying hard to find
another job, but there’s not much stable
work available in his field.
Your support ensures Stephen and his
family are able to visit the Lawton Food
Bank, a Regional Food Bank partner agency,
during their time of increased need. They
pick up canned food, rice, bread and
vegetables when Darlene’s check can’t
cover a trip to the grocery store.
“If it weren’t for this place, we’d be in
dire straits,” Stephen says.
Gerry Lynn says she’s especially
appreciative to have access to nutritious
food, which bolsters her health.
With the holidays coming up, Stephen
says he’s very relieved to have access to
nutritious groceries at the Lawton Food
Bank. The family’s planning to get together
with neighbors, and they’re so grateful to
be able to contribute to the holiday meal.
“Thank you very much,” Darlene says. “I
appreciate you for lending a helping hand.”
Thank you for supporting communities
across Oklahoma. Your gifts keep struggling
families together, happy and healthy during
the holidays and all year long.
Tax Check-Off | Tax year 2012
6
If you would like to donate a portion of your state income tax return from tax year 2012, be sure to fill out form
511-G (Donations from a Refund) and check the box marked “Oklahoma Food Banks.” Your donation will be used to
help provide food to thousands of hungry Oklahomans. Thank you!
The Advocacy and Public Policy Department is made possible through a generous grant from Mazon: A Jewish
Response to Hunger.
John Camp
Age Hasn’t
Slowed
Down this
Compassionate
Oklahoman
At age 90, John Camp has lived a full
life. He served in both the Navy and Air
Force during WWII, struggled to find a
stable job post-war and later worked his
way from assembly line auto worker to car
dealership manager.
Yet, when John reached his golden
years, he had a hard time filling his days.
His granddaughter, Melanie, suggested he
start spending time helping the community.
“I had too much free time, and I didn’t
want to just sit around watching TV,”
John recalls.
And so, five years ago, John began
volunteering at the Regional Food Bank.
He’s here four days every week helping our
office staff with whatever clerical duties
they need.
A native of Spokane, Washington, John
moved south after the war because he
fell for an Oklahoma girl – his wife, Lillian.
John and Lillian now live with their younger
daughter, Susan, in Mustang. Their older
daughter, Carol, recently moved from Texas
and now lives close to Yukon.
Now that his daughters are also retired,
John’s glad to have more time to spend
with them, and glad to have them home
in Oklahoma. He has a true heart for the
people in his community – caring for his
neighbors is the primary reason John
spends so much time at the Regional Food
Bank each week.
“If it wasn’t for the Food Bank, a lot of
people wouldn’t get three square meals
a day,” he says. “We need to take care of
people in need.”
The Regional Food Bank is truly fortunate
to have such a dedicated Oklahoman
supporting the cause of hunger-relief. Thank
you, John, for your commitment to fighting
hunger here in Oklahoma!
Plan for the future
We know Oklahomans are thinking about upcoming changes in taxes. The Regional Food Bank offers resources
to help with your financial planning. We can help you take advantage of tax-deductible tools and techniques,
such as wills and bequests, trusts and charitable annuities that can be customized to your specific circumstances.
There is no cost or obligation for using our educational services; it’s just our way of partnering with you. For more
information, please contact Joann White at (405) 600-3171 or email [email protected].
7
Neighbors Are Overcoming Hardships,
With Your Support
Crystal
www.regionalfoodbank.org
3355 S. Purdue
Oklahoma City, OK 73137-0968
405-972-1111
Be a part of the Food Bank’s Online Community!
Friend us: www.facebook.com/regionalfoodbank
Follow us: www.twitter.com/rfbo
Subscribe: www.youtube.com/regionalfoodbank
Scan the QR (Quick Response) code
with a QR code
reader app on
your smart phone
and connect to
the Regional Food
8
Bank’s website!
This newsletter was made possible
in part through the generosity of
Sharon and her precious daughter,
4-year-old Crystal, just moved in with
Sharon’s parents, Carol and Bill. Sharon’s
husband recently passed away after a
battle with brain cancer, and the family had
been living off his income as a mill worker.
Although grateful to have the support of
family, Sharon knows she can’t fully rely
on her parents to take care of her and
little Crystal.
Carol and Bill have been married for
more than 40 years and support themselves
with monthly Social Security checks, but
it’s been tough. Carol suffers from chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease, and Bill has
heart problems, meaning they have medical
bills to pay.
Because of gracious supporters like you,
this deserving family is able to get help with
groceries at South Lindsay Baptist Church,
a Regional Food Bank partner agency near
their neighborhood in Oklahoma City. They
take home nutritious staple items, plus
nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables, as they
try to get back on their feet.
Crystal is a happy and creative kid –
she loves to draw, march around in her
favorite white boots and dance for her
grandparents. Your gifts keep her thriving
in her new home with access to consistent,
balanced nutrition. Her family is so grateful
to have your help as they adjust to their
new situation.
“Thank you and God bless you,”
Carol says.
When you give to the Regional Food
Bank, you fill the shelves of food pantries,
provide hot meals to senior citizens and
prevent children across central and western
Oklahoma from going to bed with an empty
stomach. Thank you for reaching out to our
neighbors who struggle with hunger!
The Link is published quarterly by the Regional Food
Bank of Oklahoma, a member of Feeding America.
Send your comments to Angie Gaines, Director of Marketing
and Communications, at [email protected].