Partnership Part of Arvest Bank’s Commitment to Provide
1 Million Meals to the Community
TULSA, Okla. – Arvest Bank, Tulsa, is partnering with the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma for the 1 Million Meals initiative, a two-month, bank-wide effort to provide one million meals or more to those in need.
The Food Bank will receive nonperishable food and monetary donations made to Arvest bank branches in Tulsa and surrounding communities from September 5 through November 3. The Food Bank is the largest, private hunger-relief organization in eastern Oklahoma. Located in Tulsa, they distribute food and other grocery items to 450 Partner Programs in 24 counties of eastern Oklahoma. In turn, those programs collectively feed more than 70,000 people each week, the equivalent of 865,000 meals per month. In Fiscal Year 2012, the Food Bank distributed nearly 15.5 million pounds of food.
“We are so happy to be chosen as a recipient of Arvest Bank’s initiative in our area. The funds and meals raised as part of this campaign will go towards helping so many families in the Tulsa area, and just in time for the busy holiday season,” said Regina Pickens, community events coordinator at the Food Bank.
Tulsa area residents can help support the Food Bank by dropping off nonperishable food items or purchasing a 1 Million Meals paper plate for $1 at any of the 36 Arvest branches in the Tulsa market during the initiative, or calling (866) 952-9523. Every dollar raised through 1 Million Meals provides the equivalent of five meals for local, hungry families.
In its second year, Arvest Bank’s 1 Million Meals campaign challenges bank associates, customers and communities alike to help fight hunger in the 90 communities the bank serves. Last year, Arvest banks, associates, customers and communities raised more than 1.2 million meals. This year’s effort will benefit 44 different organizations feeding local communities in four states – Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2010 report on household food security, nearly 49 million Americans are unable to get the nutritious food they need on a regular basis.
About Arvest Bank
For three years in a row, Arvest Bank ranks “Highest Customer Satisfaction with Retail Banking in the Southwest Region” according to the recently released J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Retail Banking Satisfaction Study. Arvest Bank operates more than 240 bank branches in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas through a network of 16 locally managed banks, each with its own board of directors and management team. These banks serve customers in 90 communities with 12-hour weekday banking at most locations. Arvest also provides a wide range of banking services including loans, deposits, treasury management, asset and wealth management, life insurance, credit cards, mortgage loans and mortgage servicing. Arvest operates a mortgage company, asset management company, insurance division and mortgage servicing company. Arvest is an equal housing lender and member FDIC.