MARKET SPECIAL
Residents get free, healthy food as part of Mobile Market program
Marvin Holmes stopped to get the free fruits and veggies but left with so much more.
The northeast Oklahoma City man also walked away from the Mobile Market at John F. Kennedy Park with a family size pan of Cafe 7 chicken Alfredo pasta.
The free restaurant meal coupled with the fresh produce was much more than Holmes expected to take home to his family on Tuesday — and he was grateful.
“This is nice. It's very kind,” he said as he put his tasty bounty into his car.
The special two-fer was part of an ongoing initiative involving Ending Hunger OKC's Meals on Wheels program and the Oklahoma City-County Health Department's Mobile Market truck. Ending Hunger OKC, a program of St. Luke's United Methodist Church, recently received a $250,000 grant from OGE Energy Corp., the parent company of OG&E, to purchase meals from local restaurants to distribute to community residents who typically visit the Mobile Market truck for free produce.
Tuesday, St. Luke' s
volunteers gave out produce like collard greens, oranges, apples and potatoes while also distributing tempting pans of enchilada bake from Hacienda Tacos, barbecue from George's Happy Hog, pizza from Hall's Pizza Kitchen, chicken pot pie from Pie Junkie and pasta dishes from Cafe 7 and Stella.
“Today, we' ve got a sm or gas bord ,” Can dice Hillenbrand, St. Luke's director of mission engagement, said, smiling.
She said that' s the idea behind the partnership that benefits so many.
Residents hurting as a result of the global pandemic get free healthy food and restaurant quality meals at a time when they really need them. St. Luke' s and the health department get to serve the community, which is part of their mission. OGE Energy Corp, now with added support from Bank of Oklahoma, invests in the everyday lives of community residents. And local restaurants who have been hit hard by t he pandemic have opportunities to make money and feed hungry families.
“We are distributing about 8,000 servings of fruits and vegetables and about 1,200 meals every time we go out,” Hillenbrand said.
She said volunteers have heard some heart-wrenching stories from residents who are struggling to make ends meet because they lost their jobs or
“We are distributing about 8,000 servings of fruits and vegetables and about 1,200 meals every time we go out.”
Candice Hillenbrand, St. Luke's director of mission engagement
have other troubles due to the pandemic.
“Honestly, being part of the solution is rewarding,” she said.
Hill en brand said Ending Hunger OKC takes the Mobile Market truck out on the road four times a week, with the health department underwriting the free produce.
The truck visits JFK Park, 1824 NE 16; Christ Temple Community Church and Uptown Kelley in northeast Oklahoma City. The truck also stop sin Ambassador Courts Apartments, Will Rogers Courts Apartments and Capitol Hill Library. And the Mobile Market also visits Midwest City. Hillenbrand said St. Luke's started with the Mobile Market's regular sites but they have added six additional stops to their route. She said they are considering adding another site, perhaps in west Oklahoma City.
Hillenbrand said OGE Energy gave its generous donation to help restaurants stay in business while also helping people of all ages who are in need.
She said community residents were initially surprised when they were offered the restaurant meals. But three weeks into the special program, they are starting to anticipate the Mobile Market's extra edibles.
“Last week, we pulled in at Capitol Hill Library and we had over 300 people there. I thought there was something
going on but they were there waiting on us,” Hillenbrand said.
`Neighbors helping neighbors'
Elise Hall, one of the owners of Hall's Pizza Kitchen, said her restaurant has been making between 30 and 40 pizzas a day and delivering them to St. Luke's for the Mobile Market. She said she was glad to be part of the project and she was especially pleased that OG&E wanted to make sure that local restaurants were the recipients of its generous gift that is providing all the meals.
“Thanks to OG&E for their support. I love to see businesses stepping up and taking care of the community like that,” she said.
“That's what we need in this weird time — neighbors helping neighbors.”
Like Holmes, other residents said they were pleased to see the Mobile Market in their
neighborhood.
“I think this is a good thing that they're doing. For one thing, it' s free and it helps the community ,” Phyliss Ayidotele said at Christ Temple Community Church, 2717 N Kelley.
De' J a Amerson said her mother and grandmother told her to visit the truck at JFK Park on Tuesday and she was glad she did. She said the fresh produce giveaway was “absolutely amazing” because there is no supermarket in the area and many northeast Oklahoma City residents can't get to grocery stores in other areas of the city.
Amerson said she was also impressed that the restaurant meals being distributed were enough to feed several people.
“I think what sets them apart is that they are not just feeding individuals, they are feeding families,” Amerson said of the meal outreach.
“I love that. That is a lot of light and love.”