The Antioch Baptist Church teamed up with Feed the Children to lend a hand to Tulsa-area families Thurs., Aug. 11, from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. That’s when 400 families received food and essentials filling one Feed the Children semitruck at the Antioch Baptist Church.
Each pre-identified, participating family received a 25-pound box of food; a 10-pound box of much-needed essentials like shampoo, conditioner, lotion and personal-care items; a box with assorted Avon products; and children’s Disney books. Volunteers from the Antioch Baptist Church and Feed the Children were on-site serving and assisting. Quik Trip also donated 26 bags of ice for the event.
The event also included community organizations that provided complimentary services and products to the families.
The event is one of many that Feed the Children has planned across Oklahoma this summer to help feed bodies, minds and futures. In Tulsa County alone, 20 percent of families live below the poverty line and are unsure of how they will provide their next meal.
“Because of the generosity of the Antioch Baptist Church, Feed the Children was able to aid families who need us most,” said J.C. Watts, Jr., Feed the Children president and CEO. “Together, we can provide assistance to the residents of Tulsa.”
This event is part of Feed the Children’s FEED Caravan initiative. The FEED Caravan consists of Feed the Children semitrucks traveling across the state providing food and books to children in need during the summer months. One in four children in Oklahoma faces hunger, and the threat is even greater during the summer months when they do not have access to their school lunch programs. The FEED Caravan will give these children an opportunity to receive the essentials they deserve. Breaking the cycle of hunger gives children the chance to enjoy their summer like every child should.
Established in 1979, Feed the Children exists to end child hunger. It is one of the largest U.S.-based charities and serves those in need in the U.S. and in 10 countries around the world. It provides food, education, essentials and disaster relief. Domestically, it operates 5 distribution centers (located in Oklahoma, Indiana, California, Tennessee and Pennsylvania).
In fiscal year 2015, Feed the Children distributed 107 million pounds of food and essentials valued at $302 million to people in the U.S., and internationally, it sponsored nearly 24,500 children, addressing the root causes of poverty through child sponsorship and school sponsorship. It is accredited by GuideStar Exchange and the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and maintains a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator.
Visit http://www.feedthechildren.org for more information.