Hunger is an ongoing problem in Oklahoma during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Normally, one in six households and one in five children in the state have trouble getting enough to eat on a regular basis.
"During this pandemic and in the foreseeable future, those numbers are much more troubling. At the height of this crisis, they were nearly doubled, and still now, one in three children are food insecure in our state and our community, and one in five households," said Hunger Free Oklahoma Executive Director Chris Bernard.
Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma CEO Lori Long said she does not expect a surge in need across Green Country to subside soon.
"We have served double the amount of individuals in the past four months than we did the entire eight months previous, with many of the people we are serving having never asked for food assistance in their history," Long said.
Tulsa Area United Way is holding a food drive Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. as part of its 2020 Day of Caring. Canned goods, peanut butter, rice, pasta, pasta sauce and dry cereal are among the most-needed items.
Drop-off locations:
- Spirit Bank, 601 N Main St., Bristow
- Broken Arrow Neighbors, 315 W College St., Broken Arrow
- First Oklahoma Bank, 100 S Riverfront Drive, Jenks
- Mabrey Bank, 201 E 8th St., Okmulgee
- Owasso Family YMCA, 8300 N Owasso Expressway, Owasso
- Goodwill, 2800 Southwest Blvd., Tulsa
- Hilti, 5400 S 122nd E Ave., Tulsa
- Jim Norton Toyota, 9808 S Memorial Drive, Tulsa
- Mabee Red Shield Boys and Girls Club, 1231 N Harvard Ave., Tulsa
- River Spirit Casino, 8330 Riverside Parkway, Tulsa
- Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S Boulder Ave., Tulsa
- YWCA, 1910 S Lewis Ave., Tulsa
- Sand Springs Community Services, 114 W 4th St., Sand Springs
- Caring Community Friends, 12 W Burnham Ave., Sapulpa
- Wagoner Area Neighbors, 100 NE 8th St., Wagoner (open 8 a.m. to noon)
