$500,000 Inasmuch Grant Fights Hunger
June 17, 2010
OKLAHOMA CITY - In an effort to help the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma meet the increased demand for food, the Inasmuch Foundation recently presented the organization with a $500,000 emergency assistance grant to help feed hungry Oklahomans.
“The demand for food has still not reached a leveling point,” said Rodney Bivens, executive director of the Regional Food Bank. “We are grateful for Inasmuch Foundation’s generous response to help Oklahoman’s who are struggling to keep food on their table. It is a privilege to partner with the Inasmuch Foundation in fighting hunger in Oklahoma.”
Since their first gift in December 1992, the Inasmuch Foundation has committed more than $2 million to the Regional Food Bank.
“Though our nation’s economy is stabilizing, many families continue to struggle with basic needs such as food, housing and clothing,” said Bob Ross, president and CEO of Inasmuch Foundation. “Hopefully, this grant will help create some stability for our most disadvantaged citizens.”
The grant comes at an important time. The Regional Food Bank is distributing more food than any other time in the history of the organization through its network of 700 charitable feeding programs and schools. The organization distributed more than three million pounds of food in April – which is a 29 percent increase over the same time a year ago. The nonprofit estimates that it will distribute a record-breaking 34.5 million pounds of food this fiscal year.
The Regional Food Bank provides enough food to feed more than 77,000 Oklahomans each week. Last fiscal year, the non-profit distributed more than 28.5 million pounds of food to Oklahomans in need.
For more information about the Regional Food Bank or to make a donation, call 405.972.1111 or visit www.regionalfoodbank.org. To learn more about Inasmuch Foundation, visit www.inasmuchfoundation.org or call 405.604.5292.
The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma is a private, 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that acts as a link through which the food industry and community may donate food and other goods. The products are then distributed to nearly 700 schools and charitable feeding programs in 53 central and western Oklahoma counties. In the last fiscal year, the Food Bank distributed 28.5 million pounds of food and product to help the charitable community effectively feed people in need. Since its inception in 1980, the Regional Food Bank has distributed more than 352 million pounds of food to feed Oklahoma’s hungry. Visit regionalfoodbank.org to see the new counter that tracks the pounds and meals distributed every second.
