New Grant Helps Food Bank Of Eastern Oklahoma Create Personalized Boxes

A new grant will change how the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma helps three area food pantries.

The Morgan Stanley Grant secured through Feeding America means people going to City Church in Bartlesville, First Baptist Church in Haskell, and Shared Blessings in McAlester will now get to choose the food they want. Before, each food pantry would decide what food was in each box.

Mikayla Demaree, the Director of Partner Services at the food bank describes this change as the food pantries operating like a mini supermarket. Demaree said there are other benefits as well.

"The highest one being offering dignity to the neighbor who is visiting your food pantry. So by somebody being able to select their own items, they are able to choose things that their kids maybe are desiring more than other items or maybe they have special dietary needs," Demaree explained.

The money from this grant will also help food pantries buy supplies needed to transition shelves and coolers.

There are also plans to develop neighbor engagement through focus groups to get community input on how to best serve the area.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.