Newsroom

Clinton Students Benefit from Elmer Smith Oil Company Match

Jan. 18, 2010

CLINTON, OKLA – A generous match offer from Elmer Smith Oil Company in Clinton will support 382 students in the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma's Food 4 Kids program for an entire school year. The match, which ran during the month of December, matched all Clinton Food 4 Kids donations, dollar for dollar, up to $14,000. More than $76,000 was raised through the match.

"I am amazed and extremely happy that our contribution could have such a great impact," said Martin Smith of Elmer Smith Oil. "I am very excited to know that Clinton's Food 4 Kids program will be funded through this campaign."

Last school year, nearly 8,000 chronically hungry children in 263 elementary schools in 38 counties benefited from the program. This is the first year for the program in Clinton. Children, identified by school personnel receive a backpack filled with nutritious, kid-friendly food to take home on weekends and holidays. Before receiving help from the program, many of the children had little or nothing to eat between school lunch on Friday and school breakfast on Monday

"One of our new families has recently been hit with several financial and physical issues," said one Food 4 Kids coordinator. "The mother has been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing treatment at this time. The father and mother recently both lost their jobs, as their business folded, their home was foreclosed, and they are emotionally, financially, and physically drained. I don't know what they would do without Food 4 Kids."

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 all children in Custer County live in poverty," said Rodney Bivens, executive director of the Regional Food Bank. "Thank you to everyone who donated toward this match to ensure that more children will receive food on the weekends and school holidays."

To make a donation to Food 4 Kids- Custer 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