Frances Bevel: Working to End Hunger in the Tulsa Area

By Danni Powell

One in five children will go hungry tonight in Eastern Oklahoma.

That's one of the “Hunger Facts” from a pamphlet published by the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.

Special Events Manager Frances Bevel witnesses this sad fact every day in her dedication to fighting hunger. Working from north Tulsa, Bevel plans events to raise awareness of hunger in the Tulsa area.

After majoring in sociology and human service administration at Louisiana State University – Shreveport, Bevel said she knew she wanted to dedicate her life to help the community. She moved to Tulsa in 2008 to work for the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, allowing her to fulfill this desire.

Bevel plans an annual event called “Empty Bowls,” a silent auction and dinner that raised over $200,000 in April 2009. The auction included a cymbal signed by Ringo Starr, a songbook autographed by Bruce Springsteen, an all-expenses paid wine-tasting trip to Napa Valley, and many handcrafted bowls donated by local artists.

“We ask artists to donate bowls to represent the hunger that so many families face daily in Oklahoma,” Bevel said.

Bevel said that working for a food bank is often difficult because there are so many non-profit organizations located in Tulsa. Fundraisers are only a small aspect of the budget they count on; monthly donors are necessary to be able to put on events and publicize them in the first place.

Bevel is married to a freelance photographer who also supports her work. He attends the food bank's monthly event called “Recipe to End Hunger” to shoot photos for their website.

She said he understands the value of her work, which helps her to get through difficult days when venues cancel and businesses are not quick to donate items to be auctioned at events.

Although she admitted her job is difficult on her emotions, she said it is worth it.

“[My work] is amazing because I know I'm directly helping people that could be just like me,” Bevel said. “You never know who goes home wondering where they'll get their food for the next day.”

More information about the Food Bank is available at their website.

Danni Powell is a TU communication student from Muldrow, Okla.