On Dec. 11, the Oklahoma Pork Council donated $10,000 to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma to support its Food for Kids Programs. This brings the total of okPORK donations since the partnership began to more than $162,000. This year, Brett Ramsey with Blue & Gold Sausage joined us and donated 5,000 pounds of sausage to the Regional Food Bank.
“We are happy to make the product donation to the Regional Food Bank,” said Brett Ramsey, owner of Blue & Gold Sausage. “It is something we do periodically as resources allow, and I think in this season in particular, it is really important for people to give. In these circumstances, we are happy to do so.”
The Pork for Packs and Beef for Backpacks programs provide chronically hungry children with backpacks filled with non-perishable, nutritious, shelf-stable food to sustain them over weekends and throughout school holidays. This donation from okPORK will allow the Regional Food Bank to process and package more than 28,000 pork sticks. The Regional Food Bank works with multiple organizations to solicit and steward animal donations, which are harvested for the sticks. Many of these animal donations come from the generosity of Oklahoma 4-H and FFA members.
“We are so proud of the youth in 4-H and FFA throughout the state who donate their show projects at the end of the show season to help other kids who are food insecure,” said Nikki Snider, okPORK director of marketing and communications. “Directing our yearly donation to the Food for Kids backpack program helps us show our appreciation to those kids and the Regional Food Bank for their great work.”
okPORK is helping to spread holiday cheer by doubling the impact of our donation in the fight against hunger through the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma's annual Holiday Match. Thanks to gifts from AMPEX and the Cresap Family Foundation, okPORK’s $10,000 donation increased to $20,000.
“Feeding hungry Oklahomans, especially in the hard times so many are facing right now, is important to Oklahoma pork producers,” said Roy Lee Lindsey, okPORK executive director. “Which is why we enjoy giving such a large donation to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. We know the money, along with the matching funds, will help feed hungry kids all around the state, particularly during the holidays.”
Last year, more than 1 million protein sticks were generated through these partnerships. Oklahoma is consistently one of the hungriest states in the nation. Food is the most essential school supply, yet one in four children in Oklahoma has inconsistent access to food, which is why okPORK’s donation is so important.
"This year, more than ever, it is imperative that Oklahoma children have access to nutritious meals and snacks," said Stacy Dykstra, chief executive officer of the Regional Food Bank. "The generosity of the Oklahoma Pork Council and its members across the state will help provide thousands of snacks, and smiles, to children during these difficult times."
In addition to the monetary donation, okPORK staff and board members typically make a trip to the Regional Food Bank to volunteer in the USDA Protein Packaging Center measuring and packaging Canadian bacon for Oklahoma families in need.
Out of an abundance of caution, the Regional Food Bank temporarily suspended all volunteer opportunities to the public. They are unsure when it will be safe to welcome volunteers again, but okPORK staff, board members and pork producers are eager to get back in the facility.
