Serving the World from the Heartland: Feed the Children Demonstrates the Oklahoma Standard

Feed the Children has been feeding hungry kids for more than 40 years. In fact, the organization imagines a future where no child goes to bed hungry. But this vision is especially of concern now, at a time in our world history when a pandemic is creating a food crisis and causing hunger to spike.

“Millions of children are feeling the effects of COVID-19 and the economic downturn,” said Travis Arnold, president and CEO of Feed the Children. “2020 is the hungriest year in modern history for U.S. families. Every day, parents are having to make difficult choices between putting food on the table or paying bills. Working with our corporate and community partners, we can provide critically-needed food and essentials to help them today.”

Each day, the Oklahoma Standard can be found hard at work in Feed the Children’s corporate office and in its distribution and volunteer center. From answering calls from a community partner who needs its supplies replenished to keep up with increased demand, to coordinating with volunteers as they pack food and essentials boxes, the staff at the charity seem to always be in motion to bring hope and resources to families when they need it most.

Darren is a single dad who loves his kids more than everything. He has four children, two boys and two girls. Their family has never needed assistance before, but the COVID-19 pandemic has held up his work as a landscaper. He’s still able to find work, but it’s not enough. And with a new school year about to begin, Darren wasn’t sure how he was going to provide everything the kids need.

“I've been a single father and I've been taking care of them by myself. And this is truly a blessing to be able to have this [support] because with this epidemic going on right now, it’s hard for work. It’s basically hard to just raise my kids right now. So this right here is a boost that really can help a whole lot of people. I'm just proud to be a part of it.”

Although its work stretches beyond Oklahoma, across the U.S. and around the world, Oklahomans can be proud that a global nonprofit like Feed the Children calls Oklahoma City home. To learn how you can help, visit feedthechildren.org or follow them on social media.