Generosity keeps feeding Oklahomans

The following appeared in The Oklahoman, June 7, 2006. Cross & Crown buys food from the Regional Food Bank to feed our families who come for prayer and help. We're so excited and grateful that the Food Bank reached it's goal.


The Oklahoman Editorial




THE NEED for generous Oklahomans to open their pocketbooks and their hearts never ends. That's proven true this week as one agency finished up a fund-raising effort while another is just beginning.

The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma announced Tuesday it collected more than 300,000 pounds of food and $210,000 in cash during the annual Feeding Hope food drive. That's more than double the donations raised last year and a tribute to the caring nature of the people of our state.

Food bank officials said the donations will help the food bank provide more than 1.6 million meals. That's heartening, considering many Oklahomans don't know when they'll get their next meal and summer is a particularly difficult time for the hungry.

The reality is that fund raising for the food bank, United Way and similar groups is ongoing. The needs often are changing but always constant. Storm season can leave many in need of housing. Economic downturn leaves many families in need of food. Sudden illness or accidents can leave the elderly unable to prepare themselves food. Children find themselves in need of a warm, loving place because of domestic violence or abuse.

Oklahoma has many places to turn for help, and many depend on the continued generous support of our citizenry to continue as a safety net for those who need it. We're grateful to the people and places for their support of charitable causes. And we're fortunate to live in a state where helping neighbors in need isn't a burden but an opportunity embraced.