Green Country Food Banks Prepare For Holiday Demand

Green Country food banks say more and more people need help feeding their families, and the demand is even greater as Thanksgiving and Christmas approach.

The John 3:16 Mission is in the middle of collecting food for its annual Thanksgiving Basket giveaway. They expect to distribute more baskets this year due to the higher need that has persisted throughout 2024.

Turkeys were arriving by the truckload at the John 3:16 Mission near downtown Tulsa. They'll soon move from the big freezer to the dinner tables of thousands who may not have had a Thanksgiving dinner without the help.

"When they come through the line and they get this, they're like, that hope is right there, it's there for them, and they're able to take this with them and they know for sure, OK, I'm going to be able to sit down with my family and have a meal this Thanksgiving," said Brian Bost with the John 3:16 Mission.

Bost says the demand for food assistance has been on the rise, and this year is no different.

"With the way finances are going now and the cost of living, cost of food, people are able to come in and get that supplemental food from us—it's just a huge blessing for them," said Bost.

The USDA says grocery prices are up both month-to-month and year-to-year.

Matt Jostes with the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma says all types of families are feeling those increases. Their organization feeds into hundreds of food banks in 24 counties.

He says assistance is not exclusive to extremely vulnerable groups.

"Over 50 percent of the people we serve are fully employed,” Jostes said. “They may not need our services throughout the entire year; they might need it to get through a hard time in their life."

Both organizations say the need grows during the holidays, and any amount of donations are needed.

Despite a rise in the number of people in need, both of these food banks say there has been no drop in donations.

John 3:16 Mission is raising money to help pay for the turkeys and is about 25 percent of the way there.