Food bank feeds Oklahomans

The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma is reaching out to people who may otherwise go without food.

Wednesday, June 18th 2008, 7:14 pm

By: News 9

By Amy Lester, NEWS 9

With the price of gas and food on the rise programs that help our seniors are more important than ever before. The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma is reaching out to people who may otherwise go without food.

It's really disturbing to think that seniors cannot afford groceries. That's why the Food Bank takes a truckload of food out of the warehouse and right to them.

"They told us last night, ‘Oh, you got a food bag,' so I better get in line," program participant Gary Todd said.

Toward the end of every month the food bank travels to nine of the Oklahoma City Housing Authority's senior centers to hand out free groceries.

"Whatever we get, we need to thank God for and appreciate whatever we get, big or small, it doesn't matter," program participant Betty Young said.

Most of the residents are on fixed incomes and cannot keep up with the rising cost of food.

"It helps," program participant Crystal McCaulley said. "Groceries are so high and there's so many in the world in need; it's great to have it right here, what help we can get."

Often times, toward the end of the month, the seniors don't have enough money left to buy something to eat.

"I got strawberries, potatoes, bread; all this stuff really helps out," Young said. "You run short; I get $10 worth of food stamps a month."

The demand for the program is up. It's run strictly on donations. The Food Bank can always use more generosity.

"Maybe buy an extra jar of peanut butter at the store," Damon King with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma said. "We could certainly use that because it may be just one jar of peanut butter to you, but if 500,000 people did that, well, that would be half a million jars of peanut butter."

Every donation counts, especially when it is all some Oklahomans have to eat.

"I love them and I really appreciate them for what they do for us," Young said.

Everyone who lives in the Oklahoma City Housing Authority's senior centers can participate. If you'd like to donate food or money, call the Food Bank at 972-1111.