Hunger Free America CEO Visits Broken Arrow Meal Site

Broken Arrow is receiving a visit from the Hunger Free America CEO Joel Berg as part of his journey across the country to see the available food distribution sites for himself. While in town, he will be meeting with local leaders to discuss the national hunger crisis and what more can be done to close the gap of those who are hungry here in Oklahoma.

The Broken Arrow Church of Christ is opening its doors at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday morning for their daily grab-and-go meal pick up for anyone 18 years and younger, but today they will also receive a visit from Berg as part of his coast-to-coast tour. Berg said he has been with the company for twenty years and thought an in-person trip would be the best way to commemorate his time working there.

Berg said in just one week in Oklahoma, roughly 230,000 people went hungry, but only 1 in 7 people received food assistance due to lack of transportation to food sites or knowledge that they existed.

“I know you guys are the Sooners, so I would like to see hunger end sooner rather than later in Oklahoma,” Berg said.

He says the goal of his trip is to get the word out about meal sites in every state while talking with city leaders in each location on what more can be done. He said he would like to see a push on getting food into communities that have been hit the hardest during the pandemic because those are often the households that were already struggling to begin with.

Many sites across Oklahoma have food available daily for pickup or even some that drop off at different locations. You can find a site near you on FreeFood.org or at Meals4KidsOk.org.

“Summer meals are free they are nutritious and everyone that needs one for their kid should come out and get it,” Berg said.

Several local churches also have meal programs and free food options if you would like to reach out to your local church for more details.