Farm Bureau members and staff from around the state donated enough food and money for more than 3,000 meals as part of Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin’s annual food drive. This year’s food drive collected enough for a record 2.6 million meals.
“It’s our way of giving back to our community,” said Mike Spradling, OFB President. “It only makes sense that those who grow the food should help feed those who need it the most. This demonstrates once again the great generosity of our farmers and ranchers.”
According to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, over 675,000 Oklahomans are at risk of going hungry every day. That number includes one in four children.
Every county Farm Bureau office, as well as the state office in Oklahoma City, served as a drop off point for the donated food.
In addition, Farm Bureau members brought non-perishable food items to the annual Farm Bureau convention, Nov. 9-11. Most recently the farm group announced partnership in the Beef for Backpack program where nutritional beef sticks are added to hungry children’s backpacks for use on weekends and holidays.
The food drive was conducted Oct. 15-Nov. 15 in partnership with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, which together serve community soup kitchens, food banks and shelters in all 77 counties.
