Stock the Station Food Drive kicks off Tuesday, November 12

(TULSA, Okla.) The City of Tulsa will kick-off its 9th Annual Stock the Station Food Drive on Tuesday, November 12 to help Tulsans in need this holiday season. The Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma (CFBEO) will be the recipient of food and donations collected by the food drive and will be able to deliver goods to 111 Partner Programs located in Tulsa proper. Residents can drop-off non-perishable food items to any Tulsa Fire Station, Tulsa Police Station, Tulsa City-County Regional Library or Tulsa City Hall from November 12 - December 13. “We hope Tulsans will join us this holiday season by helping our fellow neighbors through the citywide food drive,” Mayor G.T. Bynum said. “The team at the City and the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma go above and beyond to coordinate this event and I want to thank our community for the continued support year after year by providing meals for Tulsa families in need.” Donations will also be accepted by visiting www.okfoodbank.org. Citizens can click the “Donate Now” button then select Stock the Station from the drop-down menu so funds will be earmarked for the citywide food drive. The Community Food Bank can turn $1 into four meals for Tulsa families. This year, donations to the citywide food drive may be matched by the George Kaiser Family Foundation up to $150,000. Items needed for the food drive include canned meats, canned fruits, canned and boxed meals, such as soup, macaroni and cheese, baby cereal and formula, peanut butter, jelly, canned or dried beans and peas, 100 percent fruit juice (canned, plastic or boxed), pasta, rice and cereal. The Food Bank cannot accept food that is homemade, home-canned, previously opened or un-unlabeled. Products must be in their original packaging. Other items that will not be accepted include: perishable foods, alcohol, medicine, sodas, rusty and dented cans or outdated products. “The holiday season serves as a reminder each year that many of our neighbors struggle to put food on the table,” said Ryan Walker, interim CEO and COO of the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. “We remain grateful for the City of Tulsa, along with Tulsa police, fire and libraries, will continue as our steadfast partners to provide food security with dignity for Tulsans. We hope that everyone can celebrate the season with the warmth of family, friends and sufficient food.” One in four children go to bed hungry at night, and over 600,000 Oklahomans cannot always count on their next meal.