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159 Hungry Bryan County Students Benefit From Anonymous Match

Jan. 18, 2010

BRYAN COUNTY, OKLA – A generous match offer from a local foundation in Bryan County will support 159 students in the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma's Food 4 Kids program for an entire school year. More than $31,000 was raised as a result of the match, which ran throughout the month of December.

"We have a family that is really struggling financially," said one Food 4 Kids school coordinator. Because of Food 4 Kids, we know that they are being helped."

Last school year, 239 children in 10 elementary schools in Bryan County benefited from the Food 4 Kids program. Children, who were identified as chronically hungry by school personnel, received a backpack filled with non-perishable, kid-friendly food on weekends and school holidays throughout the year. Before receiving help from the program, many of these children ate little or nothing between school lunch on Friday and school breakfast on Monday.

Teachers and administrators have reported that students' school performance, attendance, and self-esteem have improved as a result of participating in the program. A $200 donation provides a backpack of food for one child for an entire school year.

"More than 21 percent of children in Bryan County live in poverty," said Rodney Bivens, executive director of the Regional Food Bank. "Thank you to the foundation that offered to match all donations and thank you to those who donated to ensure that more children will receive the food they need."

If you would like to make a donation to Food 4 Kids- Bryan County, please contact Lisa Perry at lperry@regionalfoodbank.org or 405.604.7107; or contact the Regional Food Bank at 405.972.1111. Donations can also be mailed to:

Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma
Food 4 Kids – Bryan County
P.O. Box 270968
Oklahoma City, OK, 73137-0968