Oklahoma food bank, school officials work to feed needy students during days off

The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma couldn't deliver backpacks of food to children last week because of the snowstorm, so this week deliveries are being made early to prevent children from going hungry.

BY CARRIE COPPERNOLL ccoppernoll@opubco.com | Published: February 9, 2011 Comment on this article

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More than 9,000 children at 354 elementary schools statewide receive food each weekend through the Food for Kids program at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, said Paula Clayton, the program's director.

The food bank delivers food to schools once a month, and then district employees and volunteers distribute the food in backpacks to students each Friday, Clayton said.

But when school was closed last Friday, that left many students without their weekend food supply, she said.

This week, food bank officials encouraged school leaders to send backpacks home early if they expected to close for weather, Clayton said. If the schools had extra food on hand, they were encouraged to send that home, too, for siblings or extended snow days.

The backpacks are filled with kid friendly food that doesn't require cooking, Clayton said. Milk, fruit cups, crackers, peanut butter and other items don't require adult assistance, either, she said.

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