Fifth Annual Bedlam Food Drive

Bedlam bragging rights are huge to University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University football fans. So why not let those bragging rights include whether Sooners or Cowboys can win the Bedlam Food Drive challenge?  Charity in rivalry – it is good and great fun!

The Bedlam Food Drive is entering its fifth year, sponsored by the OU Club of Tulsa and the Tulsa chapter of the OSU Alumni Association. The food drive, Nov. 1-30, will benefit the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, which is in the midst of one of its busiest years ever. Plan a Bedlam Food Drive in your office, school, place of worship – anywhere you think there will be a crowd - and you can help out the hungry and your team!  If you are the host of a food drive, we will collect donations for you.

Here’s how to play: We’ll furnish OU and OSU food collection boxes and posters. People drop off nonperishable donations into either a Sooner or Cowboy box. “Points” are determined by what school has the most cans at the end of November.

You can also participate by dropping off donated food items in an OU or OSU box located at one of these locations:   Starbucks at 81st Street and Mingo Road and 71st Street and Garnett Road; as well as all Spiffy’s Cleaners locations: 3201 S. Harvard, 5419 S. Harvard., 8090 S Yale Ave., and 10021 S Yale Ave.  Food can also be dropped off at the campuses of OU-Tulsa, OSU-Tulsa and OSU Center for Health Sciences.  We’re also accepting donations at the Food Bank, 1304 N. Kenosha Ave.

Plus, this year, we’re giving you an even easier option! Monetary donations add up fast -- $1 equals 2 pounds of food!  Go to our new website, www.cfbeo.org, click on “Donate Now,” and fill out the form. Make sure to designate at the bottom that you’re donating as part of the Bedlam Food Drive, and whether your vote is for OU or OSU.

Last year OSU beat OU by 1,287 pounds.  The total amount of food raised was 6,187 pounds, which went to the 450 Partner Programs served by the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.  These programs include emergency food pantries, after-school programs, senior citizens centers, soup kitchens and various shelters.

To set up a food drive, call Jill Thompson, (918) 585-2800, ext. 111, or email jthompson@cfbeo.org.