First Baptist Church in Okmulgee has participated in the Backpack Program for years. Their program was like many others, filling sacks with kid-friendly foods and dropping them off at schools on Fridays. Two years ago they finally realized a dream of Holly Barris, the program coordinator, and began offering choices...
Megan Evans jokes she was “voluntold” about her new position as director for Northstar Storehouse in Pryor. She had a one-year old, along with two older boys at the time. When she started in January of 2018, Northstar was open two days a week and serving about 15-20 families each...
The Food Bank works with many hardworking, passionate Partner Agencies who participate in our network fighting hunger daily throughout eastern Oklahoma. The Bread of Life Pantry in Tahlequah, a long-time partner of the Food Bank, has been holding regular drive-thru food distributions since the COVID-19 pandemic began. At the beginning...
Children receive food from the Afton Housing Authority Afton, like many rural Oklahoma towns, has clear age lines, visible signs of decay. As local economies evolved from small towns toward urban centers, the hollowed-out remnants of small-town buildings that have ceased to operate, linger as a visible reminder of past...
Langley, Oklahoma sits at the mouth of Grand Lake, and is the gateway to the longest multi-arch dam in the world. In contrast, according to librarian and summer feeding coordinator, Jeanie Norman, the Langley Public Library is one of the smallest in the state. It serves a little town whose...
A devout Catholic who knows her saints, Elizabeth grew up wanting to teach, she also wanted to be a saint. Elizabeth Finck came from a line of people who gave generously to those in need. She notes the way to get to heaven is determined by how one treats...
Some families seem to endure more hardship than others, and each person handles trauma to the best of their ability. Stephanie’s husband was killed when her daughter was just four years old. Since then, she has lived with her parents while raising her daughter. The four of them live...
The holidays can be an especially stressful time for many as the pressure to provide food for family members is amplified. Thanksgiving may seem more like an added burden rather than a family celebration. But each year, the Food Bank strives to change that. One program to help support families...
Summer Is Stressful for Too Many Children This year the Food Bank is hosting 72 summer feeding sites across eastern Oklahoma through a variety of programs. There is nothing like the sight of children’s excitement when they see the Mobile Eatery rolling into place. Click here for more information about...
Over the next 15 years, projections indicate the number of people aged 65 and over in Oklahoma will rise by 37 percent. Many seniors face mobility and health obstacles combined with living on low-wage fixed incomes, which creates problems of food insecurity for many people in this vulnerable population....