Nonprofit seeks donations for holiday food give-away
An Oklahoma City nonprofit is seeking donations to help provide Thanksgiving food baskets to the needy.
Mable Stoss, founder and director of the Free Food Pantry and Educational Center, said her organization typically has many donations in hand by the time November rolls around.
However, Stoss said, this year, the communityat-large has been giving money and other assistance to people experiencing floods and hurricanes in other parts of the nation. She believes this may be one of the reasons donations for the Free Food Pantry’s annual turkey and Thanksgiving food giveaway are extremely low.
“It’s looking pretty grim this year,” she said. “I’ve said I don’t know how many prayers. I’ve got the faith that somebody is going to help.”
Stoss said the food pantry offers aid to the impoverished in the community year-round, with most individuals and families referred to the nonprofit by other agencies. She said the organization provides utility assistance, clothing and furniture, in addition to food, Monday through
Friday.
The organization hopes to provide a free Thanksgiving meal to about 200 families. Stoss said the food pantry is seeking funds to purchase 200 turkeys and food for a typical holiday meal.
Stoss said the organization typically offers a free meal and the Thanksgiving grocery distribution in mid-November at a pre-determined site. In previous years, the meal
and holiday distribution have been held at a school in Spencer and a senior citizen’s center in the community.
This year’s holiday food distribution will be at F.D. Moon Academy, Stoss said. Instead of providing a meal for those picking up Thanksgiving baskets, the organization likely will provide light refreshments. Stoss said the baskets typically include a turkey, green beans, corn, flour, corn meal, cranberry sauce and macaroni and cheese.
Stoss established the nonprofit in 1990 after she earned a college degree in computer science. She said in recent years, the agency has helped families who have felt the brunt of unemployment and cuts to social services.
“We’re trying to fill the void as much as we can,” she said.