What 1 Organization Is Doing to Address Childhood Hunger

Today I am taking you behind the scenes at an amazing local organization: the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.

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  Today I am excited to bring you some important information about a great local organization: the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. Eileen Bradshaw, the executive director of the Community Food Bank, joined me to explain a little bit about what they do. With approximately 450 partner programs, this organization helps to distribute food throughout the state. According to Eileen, about one in every four children goes to bed hungry at night. And, as we can all agree, this is unacceptable. “It’s part of our job just to make sure [these children] get what they need,” says Eileen. It was truly amazing to get a behind-the-scenes look at operations here at the Community Food Bank. Especially because at the time of my visit, they were preparing for “Summer Feeding.” The Summer Feeding program is one way that they are able to continue providing for kids who rely on school meals at other times of the year. On day one of this program, they fed an estimated 1,100 children.  

Approximately one in every four children goes to bed hungry at night, so the work the Community Food Bank is doing is critical.

The workers at the Food Bank are also delegating more resources to their partner programs, as they know that their lines grow longer in the summer months, as well. So, with as much as this organization does for our community, how can we give back and help them make a difference? Well, for every dollar donated, the Food Bank is able to produce four meals. Obviously, financial gifts are always welcomed. Of course, volunteering your time and donating food are also great ways to help. So, if you want to get in touch with Eileen, you can give her a call at (918) 585-2800, or visit www.okfoodbank.org. And, as always, if you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Should You Get a Raised Garden Bed This Season?

Is a raised bed the right solution for your garden? There are a few pros and cons you should consider before making that decision.

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  It’s spring and that means it’s time to get our hands dirty in the garden. With that being said, today I’d like to discuss some pros and cons of a common gardening option: raised beds. One benefit of raised garden beds is simply that they’re nice to look at. Beyond that, raised beds also keep animals from getting to your garden. They also allow you to plant earlier, since the loose soil you fill the bed with will be warmer than the ground itself.  

The decision as to whether a raised bed is right for you depends on your preferences and circumstances.

Now, let’s take a look at some of the downsides. First, they’re pricey. You’re going to have to invest in the bed, the materials, soil, and fertilizer to get started. Raised beds also aren’t as sustainable as simply planting your garden in the ground. Ultimately, the decision as to whether a raised bed is right for you depends on your preferences and circumstances. And if you’re unsure, my friends over at Grogg’s Green Barn can help you decide what gardening solutions may work best for you. As always, if you have any other questions for me or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Emergency Infant Services: Where Struggling Tulsa Families Can Find Help

Emergency Infant Services provides relief and support to families in Tulsa who are struggling financially. They do so with love and without judgment.

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  Today I’m coming to you live from the downtown office of Emergency Infant Services (EIS) here in Tulsa to tell you a little bit about this great organization and what they do for our community. Joining me is EIS Executive Director Bill Andoe. For the last 40 years, the mission of EIS has been to serve families who are experiencing financial hardship and have children under the age of five. They provide clothing, diapers, groceries, formula, and other essential needs these families have. All these families have to do is meet with an EIS interviewer to assess their needs so they can determine which services they can provide and which community services might be available to them—even if their children are over five. Aside from their downtown location, they also have a location on the east side of Tulsa and two satellite locations on the north and south sides of town. Right now they’re in the middle of a capital campaign, so a year from this summer, they’ll be moving to 11th and Denver. This move will help them provide more resources for families, centralize their warehouse, and stockpile more supplies.  

Anyone is welcome at EIS.

One thing in particular I love to share about EIS is anyone is welcome there. They provide their services with love and without judgement—it’s one of their founding principles. According to Bill, they average about 18,000 visits per year, and they expect that number to reach 20,000 in the near future. To help carry the loan, they have church groups, school groups, and a number of other regular volunteers who help them on a weekly basis. “We’re in this because we want to help,” Bill says. “That’s what attracts employees and volunteers to EIS. We often talk about the people who come in—we talk about professionally mentioning them statistically as clients, but they’re really more than just clients. They’re members of our community. They go to our churches. We see them at public events. They’re Tulsans just like us. We’re here to help them.” EIS relies on the generosity of donors and the Tulsa community at large, so if you’d like to help them in their mission, they always welcome financial donations. They also accept diapers, wipes, car seats, strollers, and anything else a family with a young child might need. If you’d like to get in touch with EIS or you’d like more information on how to donate, you can visit their website at www.EISTulsa.org. As always, if you have any questions for me or you’re thinking of buying or selling a home, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.