Broken Arrow 4-year-old Wins Big For Food Bank

By Dan Bewley, News On 6

BROKEN ARROW, OK -- Christmas has come early for the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. It's all thanks to the golden voice of a four year old Broken Arrow boy.

$100,000 worth of seafood is on its way to Tulsa. It comes courtesy of a mom who knows what it's like to go without a meal and her sweet singing four year old son.

It's all smiles at the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma with Richie Cabrales the center of attention.

The Broken Arrow four-year old won an online contest sponsored by Chicken of the Sea. His mom wrote the song and America voted.

Related story: 11/18/2008  Mom & Son Enter Contest To Feed The Hungry

"When your tummy is hungry, hungry as can be. What you need is Chicken of the Sea. It has lots of protein, full of vitamin D," sings Richie Cabrales.

Richie won with 36% of the vote.

Related story: 11/25/2008 Help Food Bank Of Eastern Oklahoma To Win $100,000 In Food

"Oh isn't he just the cutest thing in the world. I love him," said Food Bank Executive Director Sara Waggoner.

The victory means $100,000 of seafood from Chicken of the Sea. Waggoner's thrilled because seafood is full of protein and rarely donated to the food bank.

"It's expensive, as we all know and it's one of the first that low-income folks will cut back on just because of the cost of it," said Waggoner.

The prize couldn't have come at a better time. With the downturn in the economy, the food bank has seen a 40% increase in the number of people asking for food, but donations have dropped by 20%.

"We're not in terribly bad shape, compared to last year, we're just in bad shape compared to what the need is," said Waggoner.

For Richie's mom the contest had special meaning besides watching her son ham it up. Rachael used to be homeless and wondered where she would find her next meal.               

"I know what it is to be in need and to need help from someone and it feels really, really good to be able to give back in some way. It really does," said Rachael Cabrales.

Rachael and her family will get the VIP treatment in California on a trip to Universal Studios.

Cabrales' video, along with the top 10 finalists' videos, can be viewed at MermaidJingleJam.com.