(Tillman County, Okla.) – Aug. 19, 2009 –The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, along with public relations firm Crosby~Volmer International Communications, is looking for community volunteers in each of the 53 counties served by the Regional Food Bank to help raise awareness about the issue of hunger and how local citizens can help. 

  Volunteers who join Network 53 will become “Hunger Champions” and will work to educate the local community through local speaking engagements, contacting media outlets and serving as a liaison for the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.  Several “Hunger Champions” have already joined Network 53, including some Rotary Club members and public relations students, who will receive college credit for their time and efforts.  The ultimate goal is to have a Network 53 community volunteer in all 53 central and western Oklahoma counties served by the Regional Food Bank. 

 The Regional Food Bank’s partner agencies in Tillman County are Frederick Ministerial Alliance and Tipton Area Senior Citizens.

 Even though the Regional Food Bank distributes over 63,000 meals each week to hungry Oklahomans, the demand for food in Tillman County and throughout the state continues to grow.

 “Last month, the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma distributed 3.1 million pounds of food – the highest amount of food distributed in the history of the Food Bank,” said Founder and Executive Director of the Regional Food Bank Rodney Bivens.  “We are turning to Tillman County residents to help us fight hunger in Tillman.  No man, woman, or child should ever have to go to bed hungry, wondering where their next meal will come from.”

 To become a Network 53 “Hunger Champion” and help fight hunger in Oklahoma, e-mail Andrea Kurys at akurys@cvic.com or call 405.235.2842