Dozens Volunteer To Provide Food, Clothing To Tulsa's Homeless

By Jeffrey Smith, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Dozens of volunteers spent Sunday afternoon handing out warm clothes to the homeless. The volunteers also served hundreds of homemade sandwiches. 

The volunteers came to Tulsa from as far away as Chandler and Oklahoma City. They say in this weather, they're happy to go the extra mile for those in need.

Every bagged lunch had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, ramen noodles and fresh fruit.

"It's just people who care about people and that's just awesome to see," said Kathleen Greer, charity organizer. 

Kathleen Greer started the operation last winter with a handful of friends. Then, they worked out of a kitchen. Now, more than 60 people packed two rooms at a large east Tulsa business.

"Some of these people, I don't even know their names. They just show up. They heard it from a friend, who heard it from a friend, and they're here," said Kathleen Greer.

David West is one of those first-time volunteers.

"It's a little overwhelming, at first. You're like ‘where, where do I need to jump in,'" said David West, a volunteer from Bixby. 

Last winter, Kathleen Greer made 150 sandwiches a month. Now, she's making five times that amount.

After an hour of hard work Sunday, the group went to the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless to hand out the bagged lunches.

In addition to the sandwiches, the volunteers loaded an entire flatbed trucks worth of warm winter clothes -- everything from coats and sweaters, to gloves and socks. And when temperatures get cold, clothes like that can be a lifesaver.

"When it's real cold, you need something to keep you from freezing, and it's real hard, you know, when you be sleeping on the streets," said Louis, who is homeless.

With wind chills in the single digits night after night, every extra layer counts. A fresh pair of socks goes a long way.

"It's been pretty rough. It's been pretty rough for a lot of us, trying to stay out of the cold and trying to find a warm shelter," said Louis.

Providing warm clothes and fresh food in bone-chilling temperatures is a great way to give back to hundreds of men and women in need. 

Kathleen Greer will be making more sandwiches in February and she's always looking for volunteers. If you want to find out how you can help, call 918-960-3434.