NE OKC community collaborative provides holiday turkeys and groceries to residents

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) Office of Strategic Engagement joined a community collaborative effort to provide holiday turkeys and groceries to families in northeast Oklahoma City. The donations were distributed to 500 families at the Douglass Center on Nov. 22. The event was the first ever community response to collectively distribute food to northeast Oklahoma City residents at one location.

"We appreciate the generosity of our partners who made this happen," said Myron Pope, OKDHS Chief of Strategic Engagement. "Hundreds of our fellow Oklahomans received a holiday turkey and groceries because of this heartfelt effort. This kind of event defines what it means for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services to be strategically engaged with our communities and we are grateful for the hard work of our staff and all our partners in this very special collaboration."

Karen Jacobs, Administrator of the OKDHS Office of Community and Faith Engagement, worked with faith communities, nonprofit organizations and Oklahoma City Ward 7 Councilwoman Nikki Nice to provide the one-stop, one-location event. Initially, the collaborative was unsure how many turkeys they would be able to provide. Jacobs sought out help from Chris Moss, Vice President of Operations at Credit Union One of Oklahoma. Moss was eager to be part of the collaborative and presented a $1,000 check to the Regional Food Bank to purchase additional turkeys. 

"Credit Union One was proud to make this donation on behalf of our members," said Moss. "We understand what it means to serve others, especially this time of year. We were happy to help our neighbors in northeast Oklahoma City have a brighter holiday."

"I cannot say enough about our partners in this effort," said Jacobs. "And we're not finished. Together, we are building a framework in northeast Oklahoma City to help fill the gap after a local grocery store closed earlier this year. Everyone understands the need to provide an option for families in the area to access nutritious food. The help and dedication from this community collaborative is truly a blessing."

The NE Oklahoma City Community Collaborative includes:

• Amos Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church
• BEST Technologies, Metro Technology Centers
• Bonnie's Helping Hands food pantry
• Credit Union One
• Embark public transit (OKC)
• Evangelistic Baptist Church of Christ
• Greater Mt. Olive Baptist Church
• Infant Crisis Services
  
• JFK Neighborhood Association
• Lynn Institute
• Masjid Mu'min Mosque
• Metro Technology Centers
• OKC Federation of Colored Women Club
• Oklahoma Department of Human Services
• Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma
• Siloam Baptist Church
• St. John Missionary Baptist Church
• Voice of Hope Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church
• Homeland Store
• Wildewood Christian Church