“Share the Bread”

Panera plans “Share the Bread” food drive November 3 - 6.

Panera Bread is inviting the greater-Tulsa community to “Share the Bread” by participating in a food drive to benefit the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. Tulsa-area Panera Bread bakery-cafes will serve as collection sites for canned food and monetary donations Nov. 3 - 6.

Every time a canned food or monetary donation is made during the drive, the donor’s name will be entered in a drawing. Entries are limited to one per person per visit. A winning entry from each of the Tulsa-area Panera Bread bakery-cafes will receive a gift basket and year of free bread. The drawings will take place Nov. 7.

The most needed food items include baby cereal and formula, canned meats, peanut butter, 100 percent fruit juice, pasta sauce, canned fruit and vegetables, chili, stew and soup. The food bank cannot distribute homemade, home-canned or previously opened food and all products must have labels and be in original packaging. Other unacceptable items include perishable food, alcohol, medicine and sodas. After the drive is over, Panera employees will sort and package the food.

“At Panera Bread, we believe the spirit of bread is sharing,” said Sue Stees of Tulsa and co-owner of Traditional Bakery, Inc., Panera’s first franchisee. “As a proud supporter of non-profit organizations and community activities, we recognize the importance of the food bank’s vital work in our community.”

Founded in 1981, the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma is a private, non-profit organization that serves as a clearinghouse to 440 charitable feeding programs in 24 counties in Eastern Oklahoma. The food bank distributes donated food to pantries, soup kitchens, shelters for the homeless and abused women and children, low-income families, after-school programs, family and children service agencies and senior citizen centers.

“Our mission at the Food Bank is to eliminate food insecurity and hunger through education, advocacy and the distribution of food and other essentials,” says Cindy Stevens, Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma communications manager.

For more information about the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma call 585-2800 or visit www.cfbeo.org.

Throughout the year, Panera Bread has pledged to support the Community Food Bank through their Operation Dough-Nation® program. At each bakery-cafe guests are encouraged to deposit cash contributions in prominently displayed collection boxes. All collected funds are distributed to the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma quarterly. The program has raised $1,294 in 2006 to date. Panera also donates all unsold product on a daily basis to assist hunger relief efforts. Many of the recipients of Panera’s day-end product include Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma partners.

All Panera Bread bakery-cafes are open seven days a week.

For more information, contact

Panera Bread

Tulsa

Woodland Hills Mall