About the Food Bank

The Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma was founded in 1981 as the Tulsa Community Food Bank. We are a private, non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization that works to feed the hungry of Eastern Oklahoma and engages our communities in ending hunger.   It is one of the largest private, non-profit hunger relief organizations in the state. Located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, we distribute donated food and other grocery items to 460 Partner Programs in 24 counties of Eastern Oklahoma. These programs include food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after school programs and senior citizen centers. In turn, those programs collectively feed 50,000 people each week, the equivalent of 621,000 meals per month. In Fiscal Year 2009, the Food Bank distributed more than 9.5 million pounds of food.

Who We Serve

We serve 460 Partner Programs in 24 counties of Eastern Oklahoma. These programs include emergency food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, after-school programs and senior citizen centers. Nearly half of the food that is distributed to the hungry by these agencies comes from the Food Bank and together we feed over 50,000 people per week.

About our Warehouse

The Donald W. Reynolds Distribution Center opened in June, 2006. In addition to increased distribution capacity, our 78,000 square-foot facility allows the Food Bank to increase support for our many programs, including Food 4 Kids, Produce Program, Rural Delivery Service, Prepared and Perishable Foods and Value-Added Processing. We can store up to three million pounds of food at any one time. Without continuous food donations, it would be empty within three to four months.  Our warehouse is outfitted with state-of-the-art coolers and freezers with 280 freezer pallet spaces and 280 refrigerator pallet spaces. It is also equipped with a 2,200 square foot professional Culinary Center where thousands of pounds of perishable food is processed into a form that can be frozen and distributed at a later date.

Funding and Financial Management

We rely heavily on private contributions from individuals, area businesses, churches, civic groups, as well as grants from foundations and corporations.  Because of our sound financial management and strong commitment to our vision and mission, only two percent of our total resources goes toward administration and fundraising, allowing us to devote 98 percent of all of our resources to fighting hunger, feeding hope.

Where Donated Food Comes From

Almost 94 percent of the food we distribute is donated by local grocers and retailers, national food manufacturers, growers, and individuals and organizations that hold food drives. Less than 10 percent of the food distributed to Partner Programs is purchased.