Tulsa's Restore Hope Ministries Ready To Help Feed Kids

If an Oklahoma teacher walkout does happen on April 2nd, a Tulsa non-profit is getting ready to step in and help feed hungry children who rely on meals at schools.

Restore Hope Ministries currently runs two food pantries at locations in the 2900 block of Charles Page Boulevard and Asbury United Methodist Church in the 6700 block of South Mingo Road. 

But the organization's Executive Director Jeff Jaynes says they're looking for more donations, and more drop-off locations.

Jaynes met with Tulsa Public School officials Monday and will meet with the Union Public Schools' PTA on Wednesday, letting them know who they are as well as how they can help kids who are hungry and who rely on breakfast and lunch at school.

Jeff Jaynes says Restore Hope is expecting a dramatic demand if the teacher walkout happens and kids face days without school meals.  He says considering some teachers feed kids out of their own pockets, he knows the children are on those teacher's minds.

"I don't think the teachers take this lightly. I don't think they're taking leaving those students in a position where they might be hungry - lightly. I know that they're doing it for a reason. And so I think it will also come as a welcome relief to the teachers," said Jeff Jaynes with Restore Hope Ministries.

If you can help, you can drop off food, like canned pineapple, cereal and peanut butter at Restore Hope food pantry locations or at Christian Brothers Automotive at Tulsa Hills Shopping Center just off 71st Street.

Jaynes says the best way to help is a financial contribution which you can do online and  because they can often get better prices buying bulk items.