Newsroom
Give a Day at Regional Food Bank, Get a Day at Disney
Feb. 11, 2010
OKLAHOMA CITY – Fifty volunteers received free admission to a Disney theme park in exchange for their volunteer efforts at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma today. It's all part of a national Disney Day of Service promotion in which Disney encouraged the public to volunteer in their community.
"It feels good to volunteer," said Russell from Norman, who will use his ticket to visit Disneyland.
Volunteers helped pack hundreds of food that will be distributed to more than 450 partner agencies in 53 central and western Oklahoma counties. The Disney Day of Service volunteers couldn't have come at a better time, as the Regional Food Bank missed several volunteer days recently due to the snow storms.
"Volunteers who give the gift of time allow us to keep our costs down and distribute more food to hungry Oklahomans," said Rodney Bivens, executive director of the Regional Food Bank. "They are truly the lifeblood of this organization."
To sign up for the Disney Day of service, visit DisneyParks.com and search for an eligible volunteer project. After the volunteering is complete, Disney will send the volunteer an e-mail with a link to print out a voucher to redeem at a theme park for a free one-day, one-park admission. This year, Disney has already given away 600,000 Day of Service vouchers.
Half a million Oklahomans struggle with hunger every day. In fact, Oklahoma is one of the hungriest states in the nation – ranking sixth in food insecurity. Each week, the Regional Food Bank provides enough food to feed more than 77,000 hungry Oklahomans. During fiscal year 2009, the Regional Food Bank distributed more than 28.5 million pounds of food and products throughout 53 central and western Oklahoma counties.
The Regional Food Bank will host a second Disney Volunteer Day in March. To volunteer, contact Jamie Treadaway at jtreadaway@regionalfoodbank.org or call 405.600.3154. For more information on the Regional Food Bank, please call 405.972.1111.
