Bixby Outreach Center Seeking Donations To Help Fight Hunger

Across the nation, 90 percent of children who receive free or reduced-priced lunches during the school year face hunger every summer, since the meals they depend on aren’t being served.

The Bixby Outreach Center wants to turn that around and is looking for healthy snacks that kids will be able to grab while parents are at work.

"If you have the means please, please, help us because we are pretty desperate at the moment," said Natalie Kemmerly with the Bixby Outreach Center.

Every month, hundreds visit the Bixby Outreach Center for food or clothing, but filling the bags and boxes is getting harder to do.

Kemmerly said, "The center has received less donations than we have before."

The center works in partnership with the Community Food Bank of Oklahoma, but generally serves all of south Tulsa.

"People don't think in Oklahoma - especially in a community like Bixby or Jenks - that we have issues with food insecurities and we really do," said Kemmerly.

Instead of asking for the general canned good, non-perishables and cash donations, the center is taking it step further.

Kemmerly said, "We have a contest going on. See what your neighbors are wanting to do, your neighborhood, maybe do a food drive and see who can collect the most cans, or do it at your office."

Each week, when the family meal packs are ready, families will be given the summer food bags. The focus is on quick at home meals or snacks.

"We love healthy snacks - granola bars, nuts and dry fruits, oatmeal - things kids can make on their own. One-step, two-step process, those are the things we need for our summer food bags," Kemmerly said.

In addition to the food drive, Bixby Public Schools has a summer hot meal program for students. You can find more information here.