Your Gifts Feed the Future of Oklahoma!

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“Fighting Hunger...Feeding Hope” ™

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REGIONAL FOOD BANK OF OKLAHOMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OFFICERS:ChairRay Haefele, Tyson Foods (Ret.)Vice ChairTressa Madden, Community LeaderTreasurerJames R. Hopper, Oklahoma Restaurant AssociationSecretaryKaren Jacobs, Oklahoma Dept. of Human ServicesBOARD MEMBERS:Jamey Allen, Oklahoma Dept. of AgricultureSteve Arnold, AWGMark Brewer, Seagate Technology Jim Brooks, OSU/FAPCBrandon Brown, Chesapeake Energy CorporationWayne Epperson, Fleming Foods (Ret.)Brecklyn Ferrell, Lopez Foods IncorporatedMark Harsha, Mark Harsha Communications, LLCJessica Martinez-Brooks, University of OklahomaNorma Noble, Community LeaderShelli Osborn, Cox CommunicationsCollins Peck, Smith & Pickel Construction

Dear Friend,Classes are now back in session for many Oklahoma students. After

a long summer, kids are excited to go back to school, reconnect with old friends and have a dependable schedule once again.

For the thousands of kids across our state who eat free and reduced-price meals at school, that first school bell of the year is a welcome relief because it means they once again have reliable access to nutritious food.

With your help, we’re ensuring students have food on the table after school and over the weekend when school meal programs aren’t available. Each year, our Food for Kids initiative connects more than 38,000 hungry children with the nutrition they need to thrive.

To help feed even more girls and boys this fall, the Masonic Fraternity of Oklahoma, Top of the World, David Gorham and two anonymous donors have teamed up to match your gifts to Food for Kids — up to $150,000! I hope you’ll join in this campaign to help us reach the matched total of $300,000 by September 30.

On page 8 of this issue of The Link, you’ll meet Sean, a middle-schooler in rural Oklahoma who fills his family’s cabinets with help from his school’s food pantry. Your gifts don’t just provide food — they give kids stability and confidence.

Food is the most essential school supply. Access to healthy meals means hungry children are able to focus, achieve their dreams and eventually break the cycle of poverty. Your gifts are vital to our community’s future.

As I transition into retirement, I have peace of mind knowing partners like you will continue to help fuel children’s success. Thank you for making Oklahoma an even better place to call home.

“Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present.”

- Albert Camus

RODNEY W. BIVENSExecutive Director

Steve Riggs, USPS (Retired) and NALCKim Shoemake, BKD, LLPBen Williams, Devon Energy

FOODLINK BOARD OF DIRECTORSOFFICERS:ChairMarian Moon, Community Leader

Vice ChairRobert Clements, Clements Foods Company

Secretary Peggy Garrett, Urban Mission Food Resource CenterBOARD MEMBERS:Cindy Batt, Bank of OklahomaJames R. Hopper, Oklahoma Restaurant AssociationMichael E. Joseph, McAfee & TaftTressa Madden, Community LeaderSharon Neuwald, SFN ConsultingG. Rainey Williams, Marco Capital Group ALP

LEGAL COUNSELMichael E. Joseph, McAfee & Taft

REGIONAL FOOD BANK FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OFFICERS:ChairKyle Essmiller, CP EnergyVice ChairG. Rainey Williams, Marco Capital Group ALPTreasurerWilliam Buergler, Chesapeake Energy CorporationSecretaryHolly Luke, Dunkin’ BrandsBOARD MEMBERS:Gary Allison, Tri-State Industrial GroupSherry Barton, New York Life CompanyKaren Cunningham, Oklahoma Financial Center, Inc.Derek B. Gill, CrossFirst BankJohn Kapchinske, Chesapeake Energy Corporation (Ret.)Herb Martin, Devon EnergyMarian Moon, Community LeaderPatricia Murphy, Community LeaderMelinda Newport, The Chickasaw NationJoy Parduhn, Exencial Wealth AdvisorsAdam Rainbolt, Wilcox & McGrath InsuranceScott Thomas, APMEX, Inc. Gail Wynne, Carlisle Collection

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Carla, 9, and her little brother, Luis, 7, are best friends. They share the same silly sense of humor and are always making each other laugh.

You wouldn’t know it from their ample energy and wide smiles, but this little pair often struggles with hunger — and they’re aware of it. Both kids are able to eat free meals at school but agree that sometimes, there’s nothing in their pantry or refrigerator at home during the weekend.

Carla and Luis’ mom is raising them and their older brother, Max, and baby sister, Esmeralda, on her own. She’s been doing her best to care for her children, but things have been tight since she was laid off from her job. Max is a responsible teen and works an after-school job to help provide for his family while his mother looks for work.

During such a difficult time for their family, Carla and Luis are happy to be able to contribute. Every Friday, they pick up a backpack full of nutritious, kid-friendly food through the Food For

Kids Backpack Program at Kaiser Elementary School in Oklahoma City.

The backpacks they take home for the weekend include healthy food like granola bars, applesauce, milk, cereal and fruit. Carla says proudly that she and Luis share their milk with little Esmeralda when they don’t have any at home.

Because they’re in an uncertain financial situation, having access to the weekly backpacks is really important to Carla and Luis, and being able to help their family gives them confidence.

Luis says he wants to be a police officer when he grows up. Carla’s not so sure, but she does want to work alongside her brother and be good at what she does.

Given the chance to share his gratitude with the people who help make the Backpack Program possible, little Luis hopped to his feet.

“Thank you!” he says enthusiastically. “I like to share the food with my family!”

Carla & Luis Appreciate Your Gifts

Carla & Luis

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Join In!Food for Kids Match | Now – September 30All gifts to Food for Kids through September 30 will be matched, up to $150,000, thanks to The Masonic Fraternity of Oklahoma, Top of the World, David Gorham and two anonymous families. Please give today to help us meet the match at foodforkids.us.

Hunger Action Month | SeptemberThis national promotion encourages Oklahomans to get involved in the fight against hunger by holding food drives, donating time or resources and becoming advocates for hunger relief. Remember to wear orange on Hunger Action Day, Thursday, September 8, to show your support and raise awareness. To learn more, visit regionalfoodbank.org.

Oklahoma State Fair | September 15 – 25Visit the News 9 booth at the Oklahoma State Fair and help us raise donations for Food for Kids!

Students Against Hunger September 26 – November 11Sign your school up to participate in this annual student-led food and fund drive! Donations benefit the Regional Food Bank and its partner agencies in central and western Oklahoma. For more information, contact Natalie Price at 405-600-3174 or nprice@regionalfoodbank.org.

Kendra Scott Giveback Day | September 27Join the Regional Food Bank Tuesday, September 27 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Kendra Scott on Classen Curve. Twenty percent of purchases will be donated to the Regional Food Bank.

Thank You!

Jersey Mike’s Day of GivingThanks to Jersey Mike’s Subs and its customers, $50,000 was raised to fight hunger for Food for Kids. On March 30, as part of the organization’s nationwide “Day of Giving,” Jersey Mike’s donated all proceeds from its metro-area, Lawton and Altus stores to fight childhood hunger in Oklahoma. Their gift will provide 250 children with food for an entire school year.

Workplace Giving The Combined Federal Campaign, the State Charitable Campaign and the Heart of the City Campaign are just around the corner. To support the Regional Food Bank, please mark designation code #67922 (CFC) or #9220 (SCC and HOTC). To establish a workplace giving campaign at your company, please contact Chad Haney at 405-600-3145 or chaney@regionalfoodbank.org.

Thank You for Helping Feed Hungry Oklahomans!

Feeding Hope and Letter Carriers’ DriveThank you, Oklahoma, for your support of the Feeding Hope and Letter Carriers’ Food Drive in May! Presented by Devon Energy Corporation and sponsored in part by Accenture, Chesapeake Energy Corporation and the Cresap Family Foundation, the event raised enough food and funds to provide more than 3.6 million meals.

Devon Employees Stuff the TruckMore than 430 Devon Energy employees helped the Regional Food Bank on May 17 by sorting and filling pantry boxes during the seventh annual “Stuff the Truck” event. In a matter of four hours, Devon employees sorted more than 250,000 pounds of food into boxes — enough to fill nearly six tractor-trailers!

Beach Boys Concert Fights Childhood HungerOn May 21, the Beach Boys — along with Surf Rock Icon, Dean Torrence of Jan and Dean — hosted a concert to benefit Food for Kids. In total, $33,407 was raised to fight childhood hunger in central and western Oklahoma. Thank you!

Walmart’s “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” Campaign Thank you to Walmart and its customers for helping raise funds to fight hunger in Oklahoma through the “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” campaign in April. To date, more than $177,000 has been raised — enough to provide the equivalent of 885,000 meals.

Express Employment ProfessionalsExpress Employment Professionals International Headquarters and Oklahoma City metro Express office employees raised enough donations to provide more than 34,700 meals for the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma as part of the company’s international day of service, Brand It Blue Day, June 11.

Governor Mary Fallin’s Sixth Annual Feeding Oklahoma Drive | October 1 – 31The statewide, month-long food drive kicks off October 1 and benefits the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma and partner agencies across the state. To learn more, visit feedingoklahoma.org.

Hope’s Harvest | October 13, 2016Learn more about the Regional Food Bank and how you can help fight hunger in Oklahoma. Join us for a one-hour luncheon Thursday, October 13. For more information, please call Rebecca Huron at 405-600-3154 or email rhuron@regionalfoodbank.org.

APMEX CEO Ken Lewis and founder Scott Thomas present Regional Food Bank Executive Director Rodney Bivens with a generous $100,000 contribution!

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After many years in the Air Force, Marla now works as a certified nursing assistant. She’s using the money from her G.I. Bill to put her older daughter through college — she’s studying biochemical engineering at Baylor University and hopes to join the military like her mom.

Marla’s younger daughter, Cyde, 6, is more artsy. She’s a talented dancer and attends a special school on a ballet scholarship.

Marla is a single mother, and with a steady job, she can usually provide for herself and Cyde just fine. But every now and then, she struggles to stretch her budget to cover her family’s expenses.

Your gifts are put to good use helping parents like Marla weather financial challenges. This past summer, Marla had a hard time affording to make up for the meals Cyde usually eats for free in the school cafeteria. Fortunately, she remembered an organization her mother told her about — Mission 405, a Regional Food Bank partner in Oklahoma City.

Marla was able to take home staple groceries and fresh produce from Mission 405 to prepare balanced meals for little Cyde. Because her girls are so ambitious, it means a lot to Marla to be able to fill their table with healthy food. She’s relieved to know that if an unexpected problem arises in the future, she has the food pantry at Mission 405 to lean back on.

During a recent visit to the pantry, she and Cyde picked up fresh cherries, potatoes, zucchini and cereal. As she loaded her car with nutritious groceries, Marla took a moment to share her appreciation for the people who make food distributions like the one at Mission 405 possible.

“Thank you,” she says with a warm smile. “This helps us a lot — it has helped me feed my kids.”

When you support the Regional Food Bank, you help caregivers fuel their children’s success — at school and in life. Thank you for your partnership in empowering the next generation!

You Give Families Hope

Cyde

Giving Back with a Legacy Gift One of the most lasting ways to express your support of fighting hunger in our community is to include a gift to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma in your will. Your bequest not only allows you to leave for your children and grandchildren a lasting legacy of helping the hungry, it allows us to continue providing food to those who need it for years to come. For more information about this or other ways to leave a legacy gift, please contact Chad Haney at (405) 600-3145 or email him at chaney@regionalfoodbank.org.

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Devon Energy Corporation has been a vital partner in the fight against hunger in Oklahoma for many years. The company’s involvement has grown to include annual sponsorship of the Feeding Hope and Letter Carriers’ Food and Fund Drive, countless volunteer hours, employee giving and more.

Vernon Marshall, a senior production foreman in Devon’s western Oklahoma field office, has been with the company for decades and loves participating in its hunger-relief efforts. He enjoys the fun, friendly competition of Stuff the Truck — an annual event in which Devon employees prepare donated food from the Letter Carriers’ Drive for distribution.

Since moving to Weatherford, Okla., Vernon is more involved in connecting groceries with people in need directly through the Holiday Care & Share food box program. He says he’s glad Devon wants to help its neighbors. It’s been amazing for him to see people’s faces light up when they receive the boxes.

“It really touches your heart,” he says of the experience. “You see the need, but also get to see the

appreciation. And you’re able to let folks know you care about them.”

Earlier this year, Vernon accepted a placement on the board of directors for the new Food & Resource Center coming to Weatherford. Although initially nervous about joining the “suit and tie folks” on the board, after some thought and prayer, he knew he could help out in that role.

The Weatherford Food & Resource Center, affiliated with the Regional Food Bank, opened this August. Vernon says there’s always been a need in the area but is even more evident since the recent economic downturn. He’s excited to watch how the Center will make a difference in the community.

“If somebody doesn’t have enough to eat, their health suffers, their self-esteem suffers,” Vernon says. “It’s important to help each other out.”

The Regional Food Bank is truly fortunate to have the support of Devon Energy and its many dedicated associates. Thank you for your invaluable support!

Devon Energy Changes Lives Across Oklahoma

CALL CONGRESS! One in four Oklahoma kids lack enough nutritious meals — but you can do something about it! Help children thrive with access to healthy food. Ask your Members of Congress to pass a strong child nutrition bill in 2016.

Just dial Feeding America’s toll-free number, 1-888-398-8702, enter your zip code and you’ll be directed to your Senator and Representative’s office.

The Advocacy and Public Policy Department was made possible through a generous grant from MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger.

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www.regionalfoodbank.org3355 S. Purdue StreetOklahoma City, OK 73179-7640405-972-1111

“If we didn’t have the pantry, we’d be hungry,” Sean says, matter of fact.

Sean, 12, has a large family. His dad is stationed at Fort Sill and works as a mechanic, and his mom just started a new job in catering. During her time out of work, his family struggled to get by on his dad’s income alone.

Things are looking up for Sean’s family, but while they faced financial challenges, Sean was able to help out by bringing home food from the pantry at his school — Tomlinson Middle in Lawton. An active, verbal and enthusiastic kid, Sean was excited do his part. His school counselor, Kelly Mims, who coordinates the pantry, says he’s “the happiest kid in the world” when he picks up his food.

About 70 percent of students at Tomlinson are on the free lunch program, and Kelly says the pantry

Thank You for Helping

Kids Thrive!

is a needed resource for students who are food-insecure.

“I feel so much joy when I stock the food in here because I know it’s going to students who really need it,” she says of the school pantry.

Your support brings hope to so many families like Sean’s as they work to get back on their feet. This back-to-school season, you’re helping ensure children whose parents can’t always afford healthy groceries have access to nutritious food.

Sean’s a natural helper — he says he loves chopping wood with his dad, whom he really admires, and thinks he wants to be a soldier someday so he can protect people. He’s also a strong reader and always opens a book when he’s feeling stressed or bored. Because you choose to give, Sean is on the right track to become whatever he chooses.

He’s truly grateful for your partnership in providing for his family.

“Thank you!” Sean says in his spirited voice. “Thank you very much!”

Sean

The Link is published quarterly by the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, a member of Feeding America.

Comments and questions can be directed to our Development Department at 405-600-3136 or info@regionalfoodbank.org

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