The Ronald McDonald Houses in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, as well as food banks and homeless shelters throughout the state, will receive free groceries Feb. 5 courtesy of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Women’s Committee.
“We’re celebrating National Food Check-Out Day, the day Americans have earned enough income to pay their food bill for the year,” said Clara Wichert, Fairview, Oklahoma Farm Bureau Women’s Committee chairperson.
In addition to the food donations, volunteer farm leaders also will sponsor grocery give-aways at various locations throughout the state.
According to the latest statistics compiled by the U.S. Agriculture Department, American families and individuals currently spend, on average, just 10 percent of their disposable personal income for food.
“This event highlights our farmers’ and ranchers’ skills in producing a safe, high quality, affordable food product,” Wichert said.
“We think it’s incredible that it takes only 36 days to pay for an entire year’s worth of groceries. The consumer is truly getting a bargain!”
In comparison to Food Check-Out Day, Tax Freedom Day — the day the average American has earned enough money to pay federal, state and local taxes — was April 19, or 109 days into the calendar last year.
