Aug. 1, 2022 – Chronic food insecurity negatively impacts the physical, emotional and cognitive development of children. Thanks to the annual Food for Kids Match, the public can double their impact on childhood hunger. Through Sept. 30, every donation to the Regional Food Bank’s Food for Kids Programs is matched, dollar-for-dollar, up to $205,000, thanks to the Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma, Mark and Beth Brewer, David Gorham, Energy Transfer, David and Lezlie Hudiburg, Dolese Bros and Marathon Oil.

“The Regional Food Bank’s Food for Kids programs supports children and their communities,” said John Logan, executive director of the Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma. “Food is the essential school supply. Let’s make sure there is enough.”

Last school year, the Regional Food Bank provided nearly 2.4 million meals through its Food for Kids Programs. The Food for Kids Programs are the Backpack Program, the School Pantry Program, the Summer Feeding Program and Kids Cafés.

“The Regional Food Bank is so grateful to our Food for Kids match sponsors who have stepped up to help provide much-needed, nutritious meals to one of Oklahoma’s most vulnerable populations – children,” said Stacy Dykstra, chief executive officer of the Regional Food Bank. “We encourage everyone to double the impact of their donations by making a gift today.”

The School Pantry Program provides chronically hungry middle and high school students with food to sustain them after school and over weekends. The Summer Feeding Program provides free meals and snacks to children up to the age of 18 throughout the summer months when school is not in session.

Through Kids Cafés, meals and snacks are provided at afterschool and school break programs that offer tutoring and mentoring services to children. The Backpack Program provides kid-friendly, nutritious food to elementary school children who have been identified by school staff as being food insecure. A Backpack Program coordinator at a school in Stephens County recently shared a story of the impact of the program in the life of one her students.

“A student told me that he would be starving if he didn’t get that bag of food to take home on Friday,” the coordinator said. “Many thanks to all of you for making this possible. It is difficult to imagine not having enough food for the weekend, but it is a reality for some.”

A $100 donation to the Food for Kids match will support two children in one of the Food for Kids Programs for an entire school year. Make a donation today at foodforkids.us or call 405-600-3136.