Welcome to The Feed — a quick update about the tremendous impact YOU — our donors, partner agencies, volunteers, and the eastern Oklahoma community make! We could not fight hunger without you!
Thank You to Our Volunteers!
We were proud to honor several of our incredible volunteers last week at our annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon—an especially meaningful celebration as April is National Volunteer Month. This month reminds us just how essential our volunteers are in the fight against hunger across eastern Oklahoma. Their compassion, consistency, and willingness to show up make it possible for us to serve families and neighbors who rely on the Food Bank every day.
This year’s Volunteer of the Year award recipients were:
- Air Gas – Corporate
- Boston Avenue United Methodist Church – Church
- Blue Sky Bank – Community Impact
- Pathways – Organization
- Laura Garcia – Culinary
- John McCarthy (in memoriam) – Masalene Jackson Volunteer of the Year
To every volunteer who has given their time and heart this year: thank you. Your dedication fuels our mission, strengthens our community, and brings hope to thousands of neighbors facing hunger. We truly could not do this work without you.
Make a Difference with Stamp Out Hunger on May 9
It’s the biggest one-day food drive in the country, and it’s so easy to participate! Mark your calendar for Stamp Out Hunger on Saturday, May 9th, and join our partners at the United States Postal Service and the National Association of Letter Carriers. All you need to do is place a bag of non-perishable food donations by your mailbox for your letter carrier to pick up! Our more than 600+ community-based pantries and meal programs benefit from this incredible event, so the donations go right back into the community where they came from! Check out all the excitement from our recent Kick-Off celebration!
Burnett Home Improvement and News on 6 Hunger Coalition Kicks Off!
The Hunger Coalition campaign kicked off in April to help feed kids in our community. Hosted by Burnett Home Improvement, TriStar Glass Products, and News on 6, this event brings together individuals and local businesses to create lasting change for children facing hunger in the communities we serve. Oklahoma continues to rank among the states most affected by food insecurity, with one in four children struggling with hunger. Through this coalition, we can all make a difference by supporting the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma’s efforts to ensure children have consistent access to healthy food.
Chick-fil-A $25,000 Grant Helps Children in Need
The Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma is grateful to Chick-fil-A for their generous and meaningful contribution to our mission through a grant supporting our Backpack Program. This program provides meals for school children who rely on free or reduced-price meals during the week but may face gaps on weekends and school breaks.
By sending kids home with meals and snacks, the Backpack Program helps ensure they don’t have to worry about where their next meal will come from. Thanks to this grant from Chick-fil-A, we will be able to provide 100,000 meals to children in need. Thank you, Chick-fil-A, for helping us feed kids!
Our Signature Event Returns!
The Food Bank’s signature event is back with a fresh, reimagined experience.
This year is all about coming together. Friends, neighbors, and supporters gathered around a shared purpose to celebrate what we have accomplished and look ahead to what is possible. After a year that has tested so many, this evening offers a chance to reconnect, reflect, and be part of something meaningful.
Please join us on Saturday, May 16th, for an unforgettable evening as we come together with community supporters to bring hope to neighbors facing hunger.
| Volunteer Highlight |
KTUL
KTUL recently held its Day of Service at the Food Bank, with team members volunteering throughout the morning and afternoon.
Volunteers participated in the FEEDOK Culinary event, assembling and sealing pre-cooked meals to be distributed to children across Oklahoma. KTUL is a strong supporter of the Food Bank and is committed to encouraging community involvement and support for local organizations. The Food Bank is honored to partner with KTUL.
Thank you, KTUL, for making a meaningful difference in our community!
Partner Program Highlight
Beggs United Methodist Church
Beggs United Methodist Church onboarded as a Partner Agency in August 2025, but has been operating a food pantry since January 2024. Since onboarding, it has seen a steady increase in the number of households visiting the food pantry. What began as a modest outreach has become a vital ministry in the community.
In March 2026, Beggs was hit by a tornado, causing school to be out for several weeks. The food pantry played a pivotal role in disaster response by stepping up to ensure the 100 students were fed during this time. The staff worked closely with the Food Bank to provide frozen meals and emergency boxes for the students in need. The staff envisions transforming their space into a full choice food pantry in the future.
Did You Know?
Did you know our 24-county service network stretches nearly 230 miles from the northern tip of Ottawa County at the Missouri border all the way to Oklahoma’s southern border with Texas. That’s about the same distance as driving from New York City to Washington, D.C., or from Tulsa to Dallas.
In the News
We are grateful for all the local, regional, statewide, and even national news coverage our programs receive! Check out some of the coverage below:
Sinclair Day of Service continues as employees team up at Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma
https://okfoodbank.org/local-businesses-help-feed-kids-the-hunger-coalition/
Local business owner puts out call to meet $120k Food for Kids donation goal – NewsOn6.com
Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma joins NewsChannel 8 to tackle hunger in Green Country
OKLAHOMA BUSINESS LEADERS CAN END CHILD HUNGER – NewsOn6.com
