Food For Families Food and Fund Drive Kicks Off February 11

Friendly competition raises serious money for Community Food Bank.

The 23rd Annual Food for Families Food and Fund Drive starts February 11 and runs through March 9.  In this community-wide event, schools, organizations and businesses compete in various categories to see who can collect the most food and money.  The proceeds help the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma feed the approximately 50,000 hungry Oklahomans who turn to their 425 Partner Programs in 24 counties of Eastern Oklahoma each week for food during the spring and summer months.  

In this competition, every dollar counts as two pounds of food.  Awards are given to first, second and third place winners in each category.  Categories are: pre-schools, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, combined schools, colleges/universities, organizations and clubs, businesses with less than 50 employees, businesses with 50 - 200 employees and businesses with more than 200 employees.  In 2007, 107 organizations donated 85,000 pounds of food and over $29,000.

For the last nine years, Murphy, a Tulsa-based manufacturer of gages and controllers, has been the overall winner in this friendly competition.  This year they have challenged all participants to beat them.  It will not be an easy task.  Last year they collected 39,744 pounds of food.  

Most needed items for this food drive are canned protein (tuna, chicken, etc.), 100% fruit juice, peanut butter and jelly, soups, chili and stew, rice, pasta and pasta sauces and canned fruits and vegetables.  

Corporations, organizations and schools can sign up for this event by contacting Amy Cannon at (918) 585-2800, ext. 114 or eat0@eau0eav0eaw0.  Individuals can make a donation by visiting the Food Bank’s Web site and clicking on the Virtual Food Drive link.  More information is available at www.cfbeo.org.

For more information, contact

Amy Cannon

Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma

(918) 585-2800 ext. 114

eat0@eau0eav0eaw0