Rob:  Well, the rising cost of both fuel and food is also affecting those who try to feed the hungry.  Earlier this week, I went to the Oklahoma Food Bank and visited with its executive director, Rodney Bivens.  So, Rodney, how much has the cost of food and fuel impacted this agency and agencies like this?
Rodney Bivens:  Well it’s been alarming for us.  Our fuel costs have gone up 140 percent just over the last four years, going from 50,000 dollars to over 200,000 dollars in that span.
Rob:  And what does that mean when you try to devise a feeding program for the state?
Bivens:  Well it’s difficult.  You know, it’s not just the fuel cost by itself.  It’s everything else that goes up with that, just our cardboard cost, plastic wrap cost.  Everything goes up at the same time.  
Rob:  So, with this rising food cost, how do you offset it?
Bivens:  Well, our goal right now is trying to lessen the burden on the organizations we serve.  And by doing that we’re going to a total delivery system.  While our costs will be going up, the burden on the agencies of getting the food from us will go down, and we think that’s appropriate.
Rob:  So, do you think with everyone feeling the pinch from higher food costs, do you think in fact it may actually help the Food Bank because people are now more aware?
Bivens:  Well, I think people will become more aware.  They realize how difficult it is to feed their families.  They’re having to make choices, like, can I go to the movie or not?  Can I go out and eat?  They’re making those critical choices.  And they realize, other people who were suffering before are even having a more difficult time now, are willing to help and give more.
Rob:  Now, we’re in this warehouse full of food.  Have donations stayed strong?
Bivens:  They have been down.  They’re now going back up again.  I think people realize during this cycle that we need more donations.  Just an example, our food drive, we just got finished with was up 25 percent this year over the previous year, so we’re really pleased with that.
Rob:  Now, every economist that I talk to, they don’t see this current higher food cost trend changing any time soon.  What do you do if that is the case?
Bivens:  Well, our goal would be to continue to raise more money to be able to do what we’re doing, be able to get food to people who need it; because as much as we struggle, people who need the food are struggling more.  We’re seeing more people come in wanting food, people that were maybe donating last year, this year they’re coming in and asking for help, because they’re simply struggling, many of them working two or three jobs without benefits.
Rob:   And again, the hungry here in Oklahoma are often kind of going unseen.
Bivens:  That’s correct, they’re unseen.  Just like our Food for Kids Program, five years ago we were serving 180 chronically hungry children.  This year at the end of the school year, we were serving 7400 chronically hungry children in 37 counties and 239 elementary schools.
Rob:  Well, Rodney, keep up the good work.
Bivens:  Thank you very much.