FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA) employees nearly doubled their contributions in cash and nonperishable food items during this year’s “Share the Love” campaign for local food banks.
OJA staff donations during the two-week campaign totaled more than 5,300 pounds of food items, up from 3,430 pounds of food items donated during last year’s campaign. On the average, 3 pounds of food constitute a meal; OJA’s food-bank campaign should provide more than 1,767 meals to Oklahomans across the state.
“I appreciate the generosity of our OJA team to this year’s campaign,” said OJA Executive Director Steven Buck. “In addition to their commitment to Oklahoma's at-risk youth and their families, they demonstrate their resolve to help those who need assistance in our state. I’m thankful to all of those who participated in this year’s effort as well as their ongoing support for other important community initiatives.”
OJA employees in centers and offices across the state competed in this year’s campaign. The winning team will be presented with the traveling “Tin Cup” trophy.
The state OJA office topped donations this year with cash and food donations equaling 2,795 pounds of food, more than twice the 1,146 pounds donated last year.
Last year’s winner, the offices making up OJA’s District 1, which covers northwest Oklahoma and the Panhandle, donated 1,793 pounds of food items. Employees at Southwest Oklahoma Juvenile Center in Manitou raised 798 pounds of food items to finish third.
OJA operates two residential care and treatment centers, and through contractual partnerships provides 17 detention centers, 13 group homes and 39 youth-service agencies to serve at-risk and justice-involved youth across the state.
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