Aug. 22, 2023 – Through Sept. 30, every donation to the Regional Food Bank’s Food for Kids Programs is matched, dollar-for-dollar, up to $300,0000 thanks to the Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma, Chesapeake Energy, Mark and Beth Brewer, Dolese Bros. Corp, Energy Transfer, David Gorham, David and Lezlie Hudiburg and Marathon Oil.

“We are honored to support the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and their Food for Kids program,” Chris Curia, Chairman of the Energy Transfer/Sunoco Foundation explained. “Strengthening local communities by prioritizing critical issues such as hunger and health is important to us. The work that the food bank does to rid central and western Oklahoma of food insecurity positively impacts lives for generations to come.”

Oklahoma consistently ranks as one of the worst states for child food insecurity in the nation. The Regional Food Bank’s four Food for Kids Programs help children and their families in all 53 counties served by the Regional Food Bank in central and western Oklahoma.

“We are so thankful to Chesapeake Energy and our other match sponsors for their commitment to ensuring that all Oklahoma children have access to nutritious food,” said Stacy Dykstra, chief executive officer of the Regional Food Bank. “We encourage Oklahomans to take advantage of the Food for Kids Match and double their impact in the fight against childhood hunger.”

The Backpack Program, one of the four Food for Kids Programs, provides elementary school children with a sack full of kid-friendly, non-perishable and nutritious food on Fridays to sustain them over the weekends and school holidays. All elementary schools in the Regional Food Bank’s 53-county service area are eligible to participate in this program.

The Backpack Program helps Oklahomans like Sandra, a mother whose children attend an Edmond school. “The food assistance we received through the Backpack Program helped me provide food to my family while I went back to school to get my college degree,” Sandra said. “I’ve since finished my school and my family no longer needs to use the Backpack Program. This program was a blessing to my family. Thank you.”

Make a donation to the Food for Kids Match today at foodforkids.us or call 405-600-3136. An automatic $10 donation can be made by texting “Kids” to 501-501