John Bobb-Semple
Project Manager for Community Initiatives
Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma
Session Objectives
I. Background and Conditions requiring change
II. Communication necessary for success
III. Lessons learned from the process
Our Story
• Started by founder and CEO Rodney Bivens in 1980 out of the back of a
pickup truck.
• The Food Bank grew organically over its 34 year history.
• 1000+ Charitable Food Programs
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Food pantries
Homeless shelters
Youth and women’s shelters
Drug and alcohol treatment centers
Mobile meal programs
Soup kitchens
By the numbers…
• Service
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53 County Service Area
Central and Western Oklahoma
360+ Partner Agencies
477 Elementary School partners
94 School Pantries
• Attributes
• Doubled in 5 years
• 48 million lbs of food in FY 2013
Conditions
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Dependent on a single distribution point model of operation –
putting stress on the Regional Food Bank’s transportation system
Analysis
• Efficiency & Capacity Measures
• Total pounds distributed
• Pounds per delivery
• Percent of Pounds Per Person in Poverty
• Accessibility Attributes
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Hours of operation, including weekends, evenings, holidays
Serves an identified vulnerable population
In a county with less than 75% PPIP
Partners with RFBO in multiple capacities
Responsive to Food Bank requests and communication
Agency is either an emergency food pantry or soup kitchen
Conditions
• In FY12, 25% of our
partner agencies delivered
80% of our total pounds to
hungry Oklahomans
• In FY12, 27% of the Regional Food Bank
resources were used to distribute 6% of the
total pounds.
Tiers & Structure
Visionary
Humanitarian
Community
Order product from food bank
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600 lbs. Order Minimum
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Direct Deliveries
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Central Pickup Point Delivery
USDA Priority
High
Low
Agency Grants & Credits Priority
High
Limited
Low
Handling Fee Rate
$0.09
$0.12
$0.18
Messaging
Methods
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North Texas Food Bank
Branding
Town Hall Meetings
Partner Agency
Conference
• Rethink Hunger Agency
Grants & Credits
Tools
• Blast email reminders
• Phone Calls
• Videos
Intended Outcomes

Improved capacity and improved client access to resources

Reduced strain on current transportation system

Increased ability to support collaborative community efforts to end
hunger
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The ability to quickly decentralize our operations in the event of a
catastrophe
Initial Responses
 62 agencies became inactive since Jan. 2013
 Visionary Partners were able to serve more people more
food.
 Humanitarian Partners experienced very limited change.
 None of the agencies have turned clients away due to
increased costs.
 Community Partners were greatly affected by the 600lbs
policy with 20 agencies saying they have to order fewer
times to comply with the policy.
“The changes over the last year has
enabled us to provide healthier choices
to our clients.”
– Visionary Partner Agency
Lessons Learned

Transparency is worth the discomfort.
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Agencies appreciate being informed about the bigger picture.
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Uncertainty is worse than change.
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Focus on service to the client.
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Internal logistics can be the greatest challenge.
Contact Information
John Bobb-Semple
Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma
3355 S. Purdue Ave., Oklahoma City OK 73103
jbobb-semple@regionalfoodbank.org
405-600-3167