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January Newsletter – The Feed

January 30, 2026
| News

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!

Message from Jeff Marlow

As we head into a new year, it is a time for reflection. This past year brought unprecedented challenges, with dramatic increases in need across our service area. Through it all, I am deeply grateful to our donors, volunteers, staff, and feeding partners. Because of you, we were able to meet the moment and serve our neighbors when it mattered most.

While the year tested us, it was also inspiring to witness our community come together with compassion, resilience, and generosity. That spirit is what makes our work possible.

Looking ahead to the next six months, we know new challenges await, including a significant reduction in federal commodity food. But as this year has shown us, when we work together, we can overcome even the toughest obstacles. Thank you for standing with us and for all you do. Wishing you a hopeful and happy new year.

Better Together: Celebrating our Feeding Partners

This month, we gathered with our feeding partners in Tulsa and McAlester to say thank you and to celebrate the incredible work happening across our network. We could not do what we do without the dedicated and compassionate partners serving neighbors throughout our 24-county service area. This year has brought significant challenges, including a sharp increase in need during the government shutdown. Thanks to the commitment of our partners, more than one million additional pounds of food were distributed in November alone. We are deeply grateful for these partnerships and the impact we make together.

Craig Day Encourages Students to Lead with Purpose

Craig Day from Channel 6 News recently joined the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma’s Junior Ambassador program to share why supporting Food for Kids is so important to him. He spoke with students about the power of community involvement and the responsibility we all share to be a voice for neighbors in need.

The Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma’s Junior Ambassador program empowers students to learn about hunger in their communities and turn that knowledge into action. Through service, advocacy, and leadership opportunities, young leaders are inspired to create change and help build a stronger, more compassionate future for Eastern Oklahoma.

Volunteer Highlight

Alpha Kappa Alpha

Holland Hall School hosts a Day of Service every year when students engage in hands-on volunteer work to support the community. This event allows students to participate in various activities, including serving at the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. The Food Bank is so fortunate to be included in this special day! In January, 58 students and faculty gave 300 hours, serving in Sorting & Packing and Culinary Center events and supporting our mission. The Holland Hall Day of Service is a meaningful opportunity for students to earn service hours while making a real impact in the lives of families in their community. Thank you, Holland Hall!

Partner Program Highlight

Partner Pantry in Sapulpa, OK

During the Government Shutdown, one of our partner pantries in Sapulpa, OK, saw approximately a 40% increase in food requests. Below is a story recently reported from one of our partner pantries:

“A few weeks ago, I experienced an event that highlighted the remarkable contributions our church is making to the community. Our church operates a food pantry that is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and my wife and I make an effort to assist as much as we can. A few weeks prior, just as we were about to close, a gentleman approached the line like any other patron. We provided him with food, and he continued on his way. Once our shift concluded and I was leaving, I observed a vehicle that had not left from the parking lot, positioned off to the side. I approached the vehicle and exited my own to check if the man required any assistance. It turned out to be the same man who had come through the line just before closing, and he was consuming the food that our food pantry had recently provided him. He was fine, merely hungry enough to stop and eat immediately after receiving his food. [it was reported that he hadn’t eaten for several days before this event]. As I drove away, I reflected on how fortunate I am and recognized the significant impact our food pantry has on the community, serving those who can never pay us back.”
*Names removed for confidentialityFirst Presbyterian Church in Sapulpa offers a full-choice food pantry. In the past year, it has served over 20,000 individuals, averaging 1,400 households per month. Its food pantry is 100% volunteer run by the church congregation. It aims to have a dignity-centered shopping environment for those visiting the food pantry. It also has some planned improvements which include expanding their food pantry footprint to enhance the flow and increasing cold storage options.

Did You Know?

Last Call for Whiskey Dinner Tickets!

Food Bank Featured on National Newscast

Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma President and CEO Jeff Marlow was featured as a subject matter expert in a special report produced by PBS NewsHour. The segment explored the challenges communities face in addressing hunger, including the recent SNAP funding freeze, and highlighted approaches food banks are using to support neighbors in need across Oklahoma.

The report helped educate a national audience about the realities of food insecurity and the response efforts taking place across our network.