Hazel lived in Spencer for 30 years. Her husband, Floyd, partnered with Urban Harvest, a program of the Regional Food Bank, to provide a community garden there for 13 years.
“He just always had the dream that he wanted to help feed people, so he decided on raising a garden and giving vegetables to the people who couldn’t afford to buy them themselves,” Hazel says.
When Floyd passed away, Hazel found it challenging to get by on her single income — on top of raising her grandchildren. Three of those grandchildren are in the Regional Food Bank’s Backpack Program, and she couldn’t be more grateful. Every week, her grandkids can bring home backpacks filled with shelf-stable pantry items and nourishing food to help provide weekend meals.
“It’s a big help,” Hazel says. “It helps me to make my food stretch farther. That’s an extra meal I don’t have to worry about when the kids are out of school.”
Hazel is one of nearly 3 million grandparents in the United States who are raising grandchildren. Thanks to donors like you, the Regional Food Bank’s Food for Kids Program is able to provide support through the Backpack Program, Kids Café Program, the Summer Feeding Program and the School Pantry Program.
Heather Morris, backpack program and pantry liaison for Mid-Del Public Schools, sees the direct impact these programs have. “I’ve seen someone who was struggling to perform in class, and when those food needs were met through the pantry, the student’s grades increased. Because there was stability, and they knew where that food was coming from and it was one less worry for this child. That child was able to graduate, be on an honor roll, and then go on to a collegiate athletic program. And that’s because of donors like you.”
One in four Oklahoma children are living with hunger. But this is where generous support from neighbors and Regional Food Bank partnerships can help.
“We don’t want to just feed a child for the day. We want to feed their future, which is a huge part of what education is and what the Regional Food Bank is doing,” Heather says.
“When you’re able to support, and if you’re able to give financially to these children, to these families, to these grandparents, it opens lives and futures to where they can really thrive.”
Because of donors like you, Hazel’s grandchildren are learning and thriving in school. Remember, right now your gift goes twice as far. Thank you!