LAWTON — Arvest Bank in southwest Oklahoma will partner with Lawton Food Bank, Christians Concerned in Duncan, Chickasha Emergency Food Pantry, Elgin Community Food Bank and Walters Food 4 Kids for its 11th annual Million Meals campaign, a two-month, bank-wide effort to provide at least 1 million meals to people in need within the bank’s footprint.
Launched in 2011, Arvest’s Million Meals campaigns have raised 17.06 million meals over the past 10 years, according to an Arvest news release. The total includes more than $3 million in funds given directly to the bank’s dozens of local food partners.
Organizations will receive monetary donations made in southwest Oklahoma from April 5-May 29. Area residents can support Million Meals by making monetary donations at Arvest branches and drive-thrus in southwest Oklahoma or by calling 866-952-9523.
Additionally, customers can donate via the Arvest Go mobile banking app, and Arvest Flex Rewards credit cardholders can log in to arvestflexrewards.com to redeem and donate rewards points.
Every dollar raised through Million Meals provides the equivalent of five meals for local, hungry families, according to the news release. While Arvest is unable to accept food donations in branches this year, customers and community members can donate directly to the bank’s food partners.
“We are so happy and appreciative to be included in this year’s Million Meals campaign,” said Marny Skindrud, Lawton Food Bank director. “We have faced a lot of challenges over the last year, so the funds raised through this campaign will be a great help to families throughout the area. Summer is a time when both food supply and fundraising can be a challenge, but this campaign will help us continue to provide for those in need.”
Last year, Arvest provided 1 million meals to its food partners in the form of direct monetary donations after suspending some aspects of its campaign to protect participants from the spread of COVID-19, according to the news release. This year’s effort benefits 90-plus organizations across the four states – Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma – that Arvest serves.