Road Trip-Giving Back

Road Trip Oklahoma rolls on this month with a special focus on giving back. Learn how you too can get involved and help the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma fight hunger across our state.

Monday, November 19th 2012, 2:40 pm

By: News 9


News 9 and Leisure Time RV's Road Trip Oklahoma rolls on this month with a special focus on giving back. With the holiday season upon us, we embrace the spirit of giving and are centering our efforts on contributing to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.

No matter how big or small the effort, each person can contribute to the fight against hunger and helping our neighbors in need across our state.

News 9 and Leisure Time RV will be at the Outlet Shoppes at Oklahoma City on Friday, November 30 from 10:00am-6:00pm by the big holiday tree between Nike and Saks Fifth Avenue off Fifth. We will be accepting monetary donations for the Regional Food Bank and you can spin the News 9 prize wheel as well as meet News 9 anchors while you're there. 

Every $1.00 donation made to the Regional Food Bank equals one (1) entry into the Bose Solo TV Sound System Giveaway. One grand prize winner will receive One (1) Bose Solo TV Sound System and One (1) Belkin Surge Protector (approx. value: $500.00).  Complete rules for this giveaway can be found on www.news9.com/contests.

Started in 1980, The Regional Food Bank serves 53 counties in central and western Oklahoma providing enough food to feed more than 90,000 people every week. In the first year of operation, the Food Bank distributed 280,000 pounds of food. Since then, it has distributed more than 500 million pounds of food to individuals and families across Oklahoma.

One of the programs supported by the Regional Food bank that is especially close to News 9 is the Food for Kids Backpack Program.

One in four children in Oklahoma is at risk for hunger every day and unfortunately for many of those children, huger isn't just an occasional missed meal, but rather a way of life.

The Regional Food Bank became a pioneer in the fight against childhood hunger after hearing a firsthand account of an Oklahoma City elementary student who was waiting in the school lunch line and fainted one Monday morning due to the lack of food over the weekend.

In January 2003, the Food For Kids Backpack Program began with five Oklahoma City schools providing 180 chronically children a backpack filled with non-perishable, kid-friendly food to eat on weekends and school holidays.

In the nine years since, the program has significantly grown and now serves 475 elementary schools in Oklahoma providing necessary food to more than 13,500 chronically hungry children each week.

More than one-third of the Regional Food Bank's emergency food recipients each week are children. Without the backpack program children go without the most essential school supply; food. Hungry children cannot learn.

Children who live with hunger develop at a slower pace both physically and socially than their peers. In addition, chronically hungry children experience higher levels of anxiety, hyperactivity, irritability and aggression. Chronic hunger results in students with lower attendance rates at school and lower academic performance.

Because of the critical connection between childhood nutrition and cognitive and physical development, News 9 is committed to doing our part to end childhood hunger in our state and we encourage everyone to get involved in any way possible.

Whether you are able to give through a financial donation or you give of your time through volunteering, there are many ways to get involved and contribute to the Regional Food Bank's efforts.

You can donate today through our special donation link at news9.com/foodforkids or call the Regional Food Bank today at 405-972-1111 to learn how you can volunteer.

All donations to the Regional Food Bank between now and January 15, 2012 will have twice the impact through the special $1 Million Match offer from Chesapeake Energy. Every dollar donated up to $1 million will be doubled to help feed twice as many Oklahomans thanks to Chesapeake.

Donate now and please be as generous as you can to help end hunger in Oklahoma.

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