Newsroom | News Releases

First day of caring to benefit Iron Gate’s kid pack pantry

TULSA, Okla. — Beginning April 1, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma will partner with organizations in Tulsa and Oklahoma City to complete projects benefiting the communities they serve — termed 85 Days of Caring. The hands-on volunteerism is inspired by the company's 85th anniversary, which it is celebrating this year. 

“On April 1, 1940, we became the first insurer in Oklahoma,” said Stephania Grober, President of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma. “Eighty-five years later, our legacy of reliability, access to care and quality service are still at the heart of what drives our organization. We are proud to serve Oklahomans and will continue to invest in our state’s health.” 

BCBSOK’s 85 Days of Caring kicks off with a service project benefiting Iron Gate kids pack pantry. Employees put together 100 bags, including kid-friendly, healthy snacks, to help the organization combat childhood hunger. These snack packs are handed out to children who come through Iron Gate’s community meal line or visit their food pantry.

“Iron Gate is honored to partner with BCBSOK to fight food insecurity,” said Carrie Vesely Henderson, Executive Director of Iron Gate. “Children make up more than 40 percent of our pantry users. Today's project is especially meaningful as it provides snack packs for our youngest guests, which brings some normalcy to their lives. Our long-term partnership with BCBSOK provides volunteers, food and monetary support to help keep our food pantry and community meal serving our neighbors.”

During the next 85 days, BCBSOK and their employees will donate and volunteer at organizations that directly target the economic factors that impact health. This state-wide effort focuses on food insecurity, housing insecurity and maternal and infant health. 

“There is no better way to commemorate our 85th year, than to give back to the communities that we are proud to serve everyday,” said Grober. 

# # #

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma
For 85 years, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma has been committed to meeting the health care financing needs of Oklahomans. As the state's oldest and largest private health insurer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma provides health care benefit plans for more than 850,000 Oklahomans. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma is a division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Media Contact

Tricia Ament
Tricia_Ament@bcbsok.com
918-261-7548