Agricultural News
OK FFA Chapters Donate More than 1 Million Protein Sticks to Help Feed Chronically Hungry Children
Thu, 04 May 2017 11:54:38 CDT
Each year, Oklahoma FFA Chapters join the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma in fighting childhood hunger. This school year through the Hunger Challenge, chapters were asked to donate livestock and raise monetary donations to provide the equivalent of 1 million protein sticks for the Oklahoma Food Bank's Backpack Programs. At the Oklahoma FFA Association's 91st State FFA Convention yesterday, FFA Executive Secretary Kent Boggs announced that the Oklahoma FFA Chapters met - and exceeded - their goal.
Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays spoke with Katie Fitzgerald, chief executive officer of the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, about the Oklahoma FFA Organization's initiative to help feed hungry children in the state. You can hear his interview with Fritzgerald, by clicking or tapping the LISTEN BAR below at the bottom of this story.
"We want to thank the 226 FFA Chapters across the state that joined us in the fight against childhood hunger by providing 1,015,764 protein sticks for the Backpack Program," said Boggs. "It takes a tremendous amount of time, money and hard work to raise livestock. We are grateful for the sacrifices students are making to help the one in four children in Oklahoma who have inconsistent access to food."
Donations for the Hunger Challenge were raised at the 2016 Tulsa State Fair and OYE Junior Livestock Expo in March. Through the Challenge, FFA students donated livestock and raised monetary donations through the Cents Makes Sense program.
"It is inspiring to work with so many students who are committed to ensuring children have enough to eat over the weekend," said Fitzgerald. "Their compassion and generous support provide hope, in the form of much-needed food, to chronically hungry children across Oklahoma."
The Beef for Backpacks and Pork for Packs programs create collaborative relationships with local farmers, manufacturers and processors to provide protein sticks for the Oklahoma Food Bank's Food for Kids Backpack program. This program provides chronically hungry elementary school children with a backpack full of kid-friendly, non-perishable and nutritious food every Friday to sustain them over weekends and school holidays. Last year, 29,000 elementary school children received food during the school year through this program.
"Support from the Oklahoma FFA is vital to helping us 'meat' the increase in need," said Fitzgerald. "This year alone, the Regional Food Bank served 3,000 more children than last year through our Backpack Program."
Beef for Backpacks and Pork for Packs accept cattle, hogs and monetary donations. These programs are made possible thanks to the Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Oklahoma Beef Council, Oklahoma State University Food and Agricultural Products Center, the Oklahoma Pork Council, Ralph's Meat Company in Perkins and Chickasha Meats.
Donations are still needed to fight childhood hunger. Livestock donations are tax deductible as a charitable donation to a 501(C) 3 corporation, pursuant to IRS guidelines. Livestock donation receipt amounts are based on the USDA daily market price. A Livestock Owner/Donor Certificate must be completed in order to receive a donation receipt. For more information on how to donate, contact Thad Doye by phone at 405-523-2307 or by email.
The Oklahoma FFA also supports the Oklahoma Food Banks through volunteerism. In fact, during National FFA Week in February 200 FFA students packed more than 24,500 pounds of food at the Regional Food Bank.
Established in 1980, the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma is the state's largest private hunger-relief organization. During fiscal year 2016, the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma distributed 52 million pounds of food and product through a network of more than 1,300 charitable feeding programs and schools throughout 53 central and western Oklahoma counties.
Together, we can solve hunger. To learn more about the Regional Food Bank, or to make a tax-deductible donation, visit regionalfoodbank.org or call 405-972-1111.
Source - The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma
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