Orlando area Panera Bread's pledge support to Oklahoma tornado survivors

ORLANDO, Fla. — During the month of June, participating Central Florida Panera Bread® bakery-cafes will be donating 10% of all catering sales to benefit the local Feeding America® Food Bank in Oklahoma City, The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.

During the campaign, Panera Catering Coordinators are encouraging their customers to place catering orders during June, in order to be a part of this “Charity Challenge”. Panera will donate a minimum of $30,000 to the victims of the tornadoes that struck Oklahoma last week.

Local franchise owners, Annette and Gavin Ford, are taking their current Feeding America® and Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida partnerships to the next level. “We want to help everyone that was affected by the tornadoes in Oklahoma,” said Annette Ford. “By encouraging our guests to place a catering order, we are hoping to make a significant donation to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. Their tornado relief fund will provide food, water and aid to the people of Central Oklahoma. Our business is to feed people; this is the best way to help.”

Last year alone, Panera Bread locations throughout Central Florida, owned by the Fords, donated nearly $400,000 to local charitable organizations like Second Harvest Food Bank.

WFTV