Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma raises more than $3.5 million

The future of Chesapeake's matching pledge is in question, as the company announced earlier this month it would begin slashing its charitable giving.

Chesapeake has not commented on its plan to halve its spending on charitable spending, trade association dues and lobbying by 2015 since disclosing it in a Jan. 7 filing.

Last year, the food bank raised $3.37 million with Chesapeake's help. That provided more than 16.85 million meals to hungry Oklahomans.

The food bank provides enough food to feed 90,000 Oklahomans each week, with demand growing.

“The food bank helps provide our students with food when they would not otherwise have food on the weekends,” said Rejeana Payne, principal of Thelma R. Parks Elementary School in Oklahoma City. “Students are then able to focus on school instead of their hunger.”