Nov. 15, 2024 – This holiday season, double the impact of your donations to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma with the Holiday Match. Through Jan. 15, all donations to the Regional Food Bank are matched, up to $350,000, thanks to APMEX and the Cresap Family Foundation. KOCO 5 returns this holiday season as the official television partner of the Holiday Match.

“Supporting our community is at the heart of what we do,” said Ken Lewis, CEO of APMEX. “For both our founder and myself, food security has personal significance, making our partnership with the Regional Food Bank especially meaningful. This season, we’re honored to work together in the fight against hunger, supporting our neighbors in need.”

Oklahoma ranks as one of the hungriest states in the nation. Throughout the past year, the Regional Food Bank continued to see an elevated need for food assistance. This need led to the second-highest distribution numbers in the nonprofit’s 44-year history.

“The Holiday Match is a unique opportunity for Oklahomans to send twice as many meals to our neighbors living with hunger,” said Stacy Dykstra, chief executive officer of the Regional Food Bank. “We are so thankful to our partners at APMEX and the Cresap Family Foundation for sponsoring this match and we encourage Oklahomans to get into the spirit of giving and join us during the Holiday Match.”

KOCO 5 will highlight the Holiday Match throughout the campaign with special programming detailing the impact of the Regional Food Bank’s programs.

The Regional Food Bank’s network of community-based partners operates in 53 counties across central and western Oklahoma. Partners like Connections Food & Resource Center in Weatherford serve hundreds of Oklahoma each month. The Regional Food Bank recently spoke with Gina, a shopper at the Connections FRC. Three years ago, life threw Gina a curveball when she gained custody of her 7-year-old granddaughter. Soon after, Gina began to have trouble providing enough food for her family.

A friend told her she would qualify for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, a federal senior nutrition program, and recommended she visit Connections FRC.

In her monthly senior box, Gina receives milk and other shelf-stable food items. But she also gets to shop at Connections FRC, taking home fresh fruit and vegetables and meat. She is even able to pick up cereal, which her granddaughter loves.

“I guess I’m pretty lucky, because with the food we get here we’re able to make it,” Gina said. “But without this place, I don’t know where we would be at.”

Help deliver hope to Oklahomans like Gina this holiday season by making a tax-deductible donation at rfbo.org/give or by calling 405-600-3161. Donations may also be mailed to:

Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma
Holiday Match
P.O. Box 270968
Oklahoma City, OK, 73137-0968