OKLAHOMA CITY (April 14, 2020) – With the restaurant industry reeling from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, OG&E today announced its parent company OGE Energy Corp. will donate $250,000 to support local restaurants in partnership with Ending Hunger OKC’s Meals on Wheels program.

The company announced it will collaborate with Ending Hunger OKC in a unique partnership that will support local restaurants to provide nutritious meals to homebound seniors, as well as families in the metro impacted by job loss during this crisis.  The partnership will provide much-needed relief to restaurant owners and their employees while serving the needs of seniors and families.

“At OGE, we believe that we are only as strong as the communities we serve. During this unprecedented and trying time, we want to look for innovative ways to ensure the well-being of those around us,” said Sean Trauschke, OGE Energy Corp. Chairman, President and CEO. “We hope this donation will energize local restaurants and their hardworking employees by helping sustain their livelihoods during this difficult time.”

Dr. Bob Long, Senior Pastor at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, who oversees Ending Hunger OKC and its Meals on Wheels program, said OG&E’s donation will help many senior Oklahomans at a time when demand continues to grow.

“Our Ending Hunger program is seeing the needs of our community rise exponentially right now,” Long said. “Meals on Wheels is now delivering 600 additional weekly meals because of the increased demand for services due to COVID-19. We are also answering the call for multiple partner nonprofit agencies with out-of-work families. This generous donation will give us an immense opportunity to serve over 4,500 hot meals weekly to people who are struggling to make ends meet in this trying time. We hope OG&E’s gift inspires other organizations to support this effort.”

Ending Hunger OKC is collaborating with Stella, Pie Junkie, Hacienda Taco, Hall’s Pizza Kitchen, Riviere Modern Banh Mi, Café 7, Leo’s Barbecue, 1492, George’s Happy Hog and several other local restaurants to infuse the money directly into the restaurants to allow them to continue to keep their staff employed. In return, these restaurants are either preparing family style meals that will be distributed throughout the greater metro area, or creating signature dishes to be delivered directly to homebound seniors through Meals on Wheels.

“You have no idea how much this helps right now,” said Robbie Vernon owner of Hacienda Tacos. “Midtown restaurants are a big lunch business and with offices closed we are really struggling. This has honestly brought tears to my eyes, I feel pretty blessed today.”

“While every industry is struggling with the economic impact of COVID-19, Oklahoma’s hospitality and restaurant industries have been especially hit hard,” said Jim Hopper, President and CEO of Oklahoma Restaurant Association. “The support of local restaurants and the food service industry is critical and we greatly appreciate OGE’s generous gift to support business owners, their workers, and their families.”  

About OG&E
Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of OGE Energy Corp. (NYSE: OGE), is Oklahoma’s largest electric utility. For more than a century, we have provided customers in Oklahoma and western Arkansas the safe, reliable electricity needed to power their businesses and homes with the lowest electric rates in the nation according S&P Global Market Intelligence. Our employees are committed to generating and delivering electricity, protecting the environment and providing excellent service to our nearly 860,000 customers.  OG&E has 7,081 MW of electric generation capacity fueled by low-sulfur coal, natural gas, wind and solar. OG&E employees live, work and volunteer in the communities we serve. For more information about OG&E, visit us at http://www.oge.com or follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ogepower and Twitter: @OGandE.

About Ending Hunger OKC

Ending Hunger OKC is a food outreach ministry of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. We serve seniors through Meals on Wheels Oklahoma City and youth through commUNITY Table. Through our partnership with the Areawide Aging Agency, Meals on Wheels Oklahoma City works with churches and community organizations in Oklahoma County to deliver hot meals to homebound senior adults. commUNITY Table provides nutritious meals and education to youth. In the future, Ending Hunger OKC will add programs like AniMeals on Wheels to help feed the pets of homebound seniors and ElderEats, a subscription meal and socialization service to ease the concern of loved ones worried about an aged parent. St. Luke’s has been an integral part of Oklahoma City since 1889.  The church’s first service was held on the first Sunday after the 1889 Land Run in what is now Downtown OKC.  Currently, the church has more than 7,000 members and is one of the fastest-growing Methodist churches in the U.S. Thousands watch Dr. Long’s sermons on KOCO-TV (Sundays at 10:30 a.m.), hear his “Something To Think About” podcasts on local radio, and live stream the 10:50 a.m. worship service every Sunday on the church website: stlukesokc.org.