John 3:16 Holds Annual Thanksgiving Food Basket Distribution

Monday, volunteers are busy making food baskets for John 3:16's annual Thanksgiving Food Basket Distribution.

Thousands of families will receive all they need for a holiday meal.

The non-profit saw hundreds of families Monday and expect to see even more the next two days. 

Monday was Kenneth Mooney's first time to volunteer for the distribution and said he feels blessed to be here and feels like he's called to serve others. 

“That right there makes me feel good because I know that I’m helping a family out and that’s what I’m about," said Mooney.

The food pick-up runs like a well-oiled assembly line. People drive up, and volunteers load up the families with food. 

“There was no chance that we were going to cancel it the needs are extraordinary. It’s been a tough year for everybody, but these people are economically distressed and they’re driving in, they’re walking in, they’re doing whatever they have to do to get their Thanksgiving meal," said Reverend Steve Whitaker. 

Reverend Whitaker said early last week the mission was short about 4,000 frozen turkeys from their goal of providing meals to 5,000 Tulsa families. He said the frozen turkeys and monetary donations poured in, which helped fill a huge need. 

“People got in line at 3:30 this morning in their cars to get their thanksgiving basket and that is illustrating of the need in our community," said Reverend Whitaker. 

The food basket distribution is different this year because of the pandemic, but they’re still working hard to load cars full of food. 

“Nobody deserves to be without especially this time of year I mean Thanksgiving, Christmas, things like that, I mean anything I can do to help," said Mooney.

Reverend Whitaker said there are still in need of canned vegetables. You can drop off those donations at the mission's downtown Tulsa location 506 N. Cheyenne.