Needy families can start getting energy-efficient light bulbs when they visit the food bank.
More than 45 percent of people served by Oklahoma food banks have to choose between paying utility bills and buying food. Dawn Casey with PSO said the company is trying to help those families not make that choice through its Shine A Light program with bulbs that last longer and use less energy.
"We'll be donating up to 75,000 Energy Star–certified compact florescent light bulbs," Casey said. "The community food bank will be receiving about 55,000 of those."
Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma Director Eileen Bradshaw said they’re distributing bulbs to families as one of PSO's partners.
"And they're going to be able to come and pick those up when they come and pick up peanut butter and spaghetti and spaghetti sauce," Bradshaw said. "Some of these are going to be in lamps as soon as tomorrow, which I find really, really gratifying. So it's going to have an impact even before the weekend."
The program helps needy families afford the light bulbs, which are more expensive than incandescent but help save on energy costs and last longer. Federal regulations are phasing out the last incandescent bulbs manufactured in the United States this year.
For every discounted CFL bulb purchased in May and June from participating retailers, PSO donates one. More bulbs will be donated in the fall.
