food for

In this issue:

Wishes Granted & Brighter Holidays

page page5 6Faith-based communities are making a difference for the hungry.

2016 Giving Spirits Another successful year.

TH UGHT

Dear Friends-

he holidays are over, and we are at the dawn of a new year. I want to wish you a happy

2017, and take a moment to thank you for the many ways in which you help the hungry in our midst. So many folks don’t even seem to see them, or know that they exist. Yet you continue to see them and to validate them with food and with your kindness. Your compassion has never been more needed, and I have never been more grateful.

It has been a bit of a tough few months for discourse in America. Regardless of how each of us voted, I think most of us can agree that the level of disrespect we saw in this election cycle diminished us all. Your efforts to feed the hungry

serve as a signal that disrespect is not the common currency in our communities. Hunger is not a partisan issue. There are many folks on both sides of the aisle who work hard to insure that both the charita-ble and federal nutrition programs have the resources needed to address hunger in our country.

Thank you again, and I am hopeful our paths will cross in 2017. I would love to have you come out to the Food Bank and see your generosity at work. Just call me, and I will give you a tour and we can visit about the work we are doing together.

On behalf of the hungry -

Eileen Ryan Bradshaw

T

OURvision l e t t e r f rom th e

Ex e cut i v e D i r e c tor

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

MEMBERS

Eric M. KunkelPresident

Mike McAndrewsVice President

Jason SmithTreasurer

Lori Lewis DryerSecretary

Colleen Almeida SmithImmediate Past President

Donna McElroy DuttonBrent EdstromRichard Ficken

Jason GlassVanessa Hall-Harper

Cynthia HubbardTom Hutchison

Rev. Donna JacksonJeanne Jacobs

Dr. Valerie Blue Bird JerniganTeresa Johnson

Kurt KazmierskiScott Lewis

Anthony PhillipsDr. Sarah-Anne Schumann

Treba ShyersCarol Tandy

Join us for an educational lunch and tour of the Food Bank with our

Executive Director, Eileen Bradshaw!2nd Wednesday each month

12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

Food security, with dignity for all

eastern Oklahomans.

R.S.V.P. to Taylor Leonardtleonard@okfoodbank.org

February 8March 8April 12May 10

2|Food For Thought

he Food Bank is continuing to improve service outside the Tulsa metro in our

24-county service area through col-laboration and expansion of current programs. In September, thanks to Morgan Stanley we received a Child Hunger Impact Grant from Feeding America. This grant will enable us to feed more children and families through the expansion of our Food for Kids School Pantry Program into 9 sites in rural counties. Along with this support, Morgan Stanley employees are also com-

W i s h e s G r a n t e dGrant funding provides critical support.

T

mitted to assisting the Food Bank through volunteerism. In October, more than 40 local Morgan Stanley employees packed food boxes to be distributed to rural School Pantry sites. The Food Bank would like to thank Morgan Stanley for their support in providing food to our

neighbors struggling with hunger. We are grateful for all the foun-dations, corporations and organiza-tions that support the Food Bank’s mission by providing necessary funding. Below is a list of approved grant requests received from September 1- November 30, 2016.

$10,000- $25,000Bank of America Charitable Foundation • OperationsFeeding America/ Red Nose Day Fund • Food for Kids: Backpack ProgramOsteopathic Founders Foundation • Food for KidsSpirit AeroSystems Good Neighbor Fund • Food for Kids

$25,000+Common Bond Foundation • Operations and TransportationFeeding America thanks to Morgan Stanley • Food for Kids: Rural School PantriesMAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger • Operations

If your company, foundation or organization would like to support our mission through grant funding, please contactFran Bevel, Grants Manager, at 918-936-4509 or fbevel@okfoodbank.org.

Morgan Stanley employees presenting a check to Executive Director, Eileen Bradshaw before their volunteer night

Lisa Prather, second from right, with Food Bank warehouse staff.

Eileen, I know we all get busy with our lives and jobs and sometimes don’t take the time to say thank you. I just want you to know how much I appreciate everything that the Food Bank does for us. I have had a lot of unusual circumstances come up in the last few months with donations that we couldn’t handle without a loading dock. When those donations arrive, we never have very much notice and

our friends at the Food Bank never let us down. Because of your help we were able to receive two truckloads of diapers and one truckload of baby books. Ron Moton’s crew at the Food Bank never hesitates to help, even with their demanding schedules. They are all so willing to help in any way. Thank you,Lisa PratherEmergency Infant ServicesOne of our 450 Partner Programs

letter to the executive director

Food For Thought|3

The founder of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Mr. Jack Taylor, had a vision of ending hunger. It was through his passion that he set up a charitable foundation to assist food banks across the country. Our Food Bank was fortunate to be the recipient of a $12,000, six year recurring gift. Gifts that recur over time – at any level – provide consistent support for the Food Bank, allowing us to allocate our resources more efficiently. Thank you, Enterprise and Mr. Taylor. For more information on recurring gifts, visit the ways to help section on our website okfoodbank.org.

Kate Pelizzoni was the person who knew your name and how you could contribute to the Food Bank in a way which maximized volunteer skills & experiences. After 15 years of loyal service, Kate has retired, leaving the program far better than she found it. During her time at the Food Bank, we were awarded the Tulsa World’s Best in the World; Place to Volunteer several times. She encouraged businesses, groups and individuals to join the team. Last fiscal year, 13,000 volunteers saved the Food Bank close to $1 million in expenses, enabling us to provide an additional 4 million meals to people in our community.

Enterprise GiftFarewell Kate

Hello Teressia Volunteers, meet Teressia Kehr, the new Manager of Volunteer Services. Teressia was previously the Food Bank’s Retail Store Dona-tion Coordinator and is excited for her new role. “Volunteers are the key to our mission. Kate has given me a great start and I look forward to adding to her legacy. My hope is to utilize our loyal volunteer base and continue to make the Food Bank the best place to volunteer because it is fun, meaningful, and truly helps those who are in need.”

Thanks to your generous support, the Food Bank was able to make the holidays brighter and more secure for so many. In addition to the 339,000 meals offered through our partners each week, the culinary center pro-vided thousands of Thanksgiving meals to struggling families. Along with SemGroup, you helped provide Christmas meals at Rosa Parks Elementary to families like Dyane’s who lost their apartment due to a fire.

“We are hoping to move into a new apartment soon, this food means so much; it will help us have a real Christmas. Thank you so much.” Your support made providing holiday school family dinners possible which strengthens school and family ties. Finally, during the winter break, when hungry students had no access to school meals, you enabled our Mobile Eatery food trucks to deliver nutritious meals. Thank you, for making the holidays brighter.

You made the holidays bright

Dyane

4|Food For Thought

F a i t h Ba s e d , F ood Ba s e d F

Food For Thought|5

aith-based communities have a major impact when it comes to feeding the 652,000

food insecure Oklahomans. Faith-based communities are an example of diverse groups part-nering with a common goal. Their volunteers, food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters and donations help the Food Bank feed the hungry in our communities.

At All Souls, the Community Resources Bank (CRB) is a food-based ministry in partnership with the Food Bank. According to Joe Nurre, program coordinator, “We are constantly looking for little niches where our group can provide service to ensure more success for a variety of programs.”As a Partner Program, they provide

During Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, at a time when the congre-gation was reflecting and fasting, the community at Temple Israel was also considering those who struggle to get enough to eat with a food and fund drive. Social justice chair Barbara Waxman stated, “Hunger is something we feel compelled to

Community Baptist Church, though a small congregation, receives many requests for food assistance. While too small to have their own pantry, they choose to support the Food Bank through their mission budget, a trust, their Penny Project, volunteering and the ABW Ministry. According to mis-sion chair, Rita Siglin, “The Food Bank reaches children, the home-less and so many other people. It is a real service to our community.”

All Souls Unitarian ChurchTemple Israel

Community Baptist Church

meals prepared by our Culinary Center, as well as additional monthly groceries to places like Lindsey House, a transitional home for homeless families. With the help of the Food Bank, they provide other services to Empower Families (aiding families damaged by domestic violence), the Coffee Bunker (assisting veterans), and school dinners at Jackson and Gilcrease elementary schools.

address. When people lack access to basic necessities like food and shelter, their suffering becomes compounded by other issues—poor health, joblessness, inability to succeed in school. The Food Bank addresses the root cause.”

2016SpiritsGivingood bank supporters filled Cain’s Ballroom, sampling more than 50 whiskeys

while supporting Giving Spirits 2016. Cain’s was transformed as patrons enjoyed time with friends and learned from whiskey experts through tasting seminars. A whiskey inspired menu was prepared by Chef James Shrader from the Palace Café and the Food Bank’s own Chef Jeff Marlow was on the carving station. “Of all the charity events I’ve been able to participate in, Giving Spirits is definitely the one that benefits our community in a truly tangible way,” said bartender Jared Reeder, who participated in the Giving Spirits cocktail contest. More than $84,000 was raised during the evening. Thank you to everyone who attended and special thanks to our chairs April and SidMcAnnally. April commented, “Sid and I are so incredibly impressed with the work of the Food Bank. From the com-plexities and scale of the warehouse to the hands-on mission of the Free Family Farmer’s Market, each segment of the organization runs well and serves so many here in Oklahoma.”

Save the Date 2017 Giving Spirits

October 21Cain’s Ballroom

F

1. Sid and April McAnnally 2. Jared Reeder and assistant 3.Tricia McDonald, Karen

Freudenrich, Elaine Breckenridge 4.Frank Cooper, John Dowdell, Shawn Lawhorn

Distillery Sponsor

Still Sponsor

Barrel Sponsors

Single- Malt Sponsors

ONE Gas

Sherwood Construction

Mary Quinn & Frank Cooper Connie & Jeff Cope

Wendy & Gentner DrummondApril & Sid McAnnally

Hall Estill Attorneys at LawMatrix Service Company

Annie & Stephen Brady Marianne & Gary Benjamin

Elaine & Phillips Breckenridge CCK Strategies

Central Bank of Oklahoma Mollie & J.W. Craft

Eller & Detrich Patsy & Tim Hepner

Tricia & Frank McDonald Leigh Ann Moss & Eric Sherburne

Optimus Industries Osage Casino

Jill & Robert Thomas Lorri & Pat Quinn

Tulsa Federal Credit Union Carey Ward

6 |Food For Thought

1.

2.

3.

4.

TOGETHER WE...

ran a marathon Stocked a Station stuffed a bus

Southern Branch NewsAs a result of new initiatives at our Southern Branch in McAlester, the Food Bank was recognized as a leading com-munity non-profit at the 241st Marine Corps Birthday Ball. The Food Bank would like to thank Johnny Nix, commander of the local Marine Corps League in McAlester. He nominated the Food Bank for the award and cash prize which will provide 4,000 meals to people in need in the southern part of the state.

The Food Bank participated in the Charity Challenge for the Route 66 Marathon, which allowed racers from all over the world to raise funds on behalf of a charity partner. “I chose to run on behalf of the Food Bank because I have seen personally the wide array of clients they serve. I wanted to do something that makes a positive change for underserved people in our community and beyond.” – Marathon Participant

Thanks to the leadership of Mayor G. T. Bynum, and City Councilor Karen Gilbert, the city continued the tradi-tional Stock the Station drive during December at police divisions, fire stations and libraries. Mayor Bynum asked citizens to, “Think about their neighbors. Think about times when they’ve had difficulty in their own life and how much it meant to have somebody step up and help them.”Thank you Mayor Bynum, donors and city agencies.

iHeartMedia media personal-ity Trey Miller from 92.1 THE BEAT spent a three-day weekend in a bus, stuffing it full for the Food Bank with help from their listeners, donors and Oklahoma Central Credit Union. Trey said, “Because there are so many Oklahoma families that are food insecure, we couldn’t think of a better cause to champion right before the holidays.

“I have one student who comes in daily and asks if today is Friday so he can eat. Last week I had three siblings. When I asked if they needed more food over the weekend, the oldest said no, they had one box of crackers on the shelf that they could share over the weekend. When I told them I could send them each home with a bag of snacks the tears came. Thank you and all of your volunteers from the bottom of our kids’ hungry bellies.”

- Backpack Program Coordinatorat Broken Arrow

Backpacks Help

Southern Branch employees Shannon Snelling and Rebecca Kerns at the Marine Corps Ball

Food For Thought|7

UPCOMING EVENTS

The 21st annual Empty Bowls will take place on April 25th at the Cox Business Center. Enjoy a night full of live entertainment, live and silent auctions, and the

presentation of our annual hunger awareness award!

For information on sponsorships or tickets, go to www.okfoodbank.org/events/emptybowls or

contact Taylor Leonard at 918-936-4544 or tleonard@okfoodbank.org.

WE HAVE A

HUNGRY

FORTHE

a

Heart for the Hungry Appreciation Lunch January 26, 2017 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. At Community Food Bank of Eastern OklahomaR.S.V.P. to Brianna Coble bcoble@okfoodbank.org or 918-936-4556

JTR DinnerSaturday, January 28, 2017 at 6:30 p.m.

624 Kitchen & CateringComplimentary valet parking

$150 per seat or $1,000 for table of eightVisit: www.okfoodbank.org/events/jtrwhiskeydinner

For more information contact Taylor Leonardtleonard@okfoodbank.org or 918-936-4544

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAIDTulsa OK

Permit No. 2370

Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma 1304 North Kenosha AvenueTulsa, OK 74106