As the varsity yr involves a detailed, meals insecurity begins to rise for a lot of Oklahoma kids. With out entry to high school lunches, hundreds of households flip to the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma for help. This summer season, the meals financial institution is making ready to serve greater than 600,000 free meals—practically triple the quantity from final yr.
Information On 6 acquired a behind-the-scenes have a look at how staff and volunteers work across the clock to make sure no youngster goes hungry.
Meals insecurity will increase throughout summer season break
Roughly 25% of youngsters in Oklahoma face meals insecurity, based on the Meals Financial institution of Japanese Oklahoma. That quantity tends to climb throughout the summer season months when faculty meals aren’t out there. To assist fill that hole, the meals financial institution launches its Summer time Feeding Program every year.
“It’s a important time,” mentioned CEO Jeff Marlow. “We’re right here to make it possible for youngsters can take pleasure in summer season and never let meals be the concern.”
Contained in the meals financial institution’s every day operation
For the subsequent 90 days, practically 100 workers members and hundreds of volunteers will put together and ship meals to kids throughout jap Oklahoma.
Chief Culinary Officer Jeremy Johnson mentioned his workforce begins prepping at 6 a.m. to remain forward of demand.
“The primary three hours of our day are key,” Johnson mentioned. “We’re making ready and doing a lot to prepare for the 2 volunteer shifts—one within the morning and one within the afternoon.”
As soon as the ultimate shift ends round 2 p.m., the workforce begins prepping once more for the subsequent day.
Large enlargement in meals served
Two years in the past, the Summer time Feeding Program delivered about 85,000 meals. Final yr, that quantity jumped to 227,000. This yr, the meals financial institution initiatives it can distribute greater than 600,000 meals to kids in 24 counties.
“We’re not simply feeding Tulsa County,” mentioned Johnson. “We’re feeding half the state.”
Reaching households in rural areas
To make meals entry simpler in smaller cities, the meals financial institution companions with greater than 600 meals pantries throughout the area. Marlow mentioned comfort and consistency are key to this system’s success.
“You is perhaps driving 20 minutes or 20 miles in rural Oklahoma,” he mentioned. “So we give a full week’s price of meals at a time.”
Go to the meals financial institution’s website to discover a distribution location in your space.
Each greenback helps
The meals financial institution credit its volunteers and donors for making this system potential. Officers say simply $1 will pay for 4 meals.
Click on here to donate to the meals financial institution.
