TULSA, Okla. — John 3:16 Mission’s annual Thanksgiving food drives has a much greater significance this year, because the serious need in the community has increased exponentially, the organization said.
“The Mission is gearing up to serve as many homeless as we can. We are also working hard to provide food baskets to families in need. The generosity of Tulsans is needed now more than ever before,” says John 3:16 Mission president and senior pastor, Rev. Steve Whitaker. “We are asking everyone to grocery shop for the Mission by adding an extra frozen turkey and holiday meal ingredients to your cart over the next few weeks. We need everyone’s help to meet our goal of getting 5000 turkeys and fixings to give to those who simply cannot afford Thanksgiving this year.”
John 3:16 Mission prepares meals for the poor and homeless every day. In addition to those meals, the Mission plans to serve Thanksgiving dinner starting on Tuesday November 23rd at 6:30 p.m. Those holiday dinners will be served every night for the following four nights. On top of serving extra holiday meals, the Mission will also be giving out food boxes to more than 5,000 struggling families.
It will take some 44 tons of food to fill the Thanksgiving food baskets needed this year. The goal is to collect more than 5,000 turkeys. Some of the turkeys will be distributed in those food baskets, while others will be cooked for the holiday dinners that we will serve during Thanksgiving week.
“In the past year the pandemic, rising inflation and the resulting economic downturn has hit the needs of everyday people like a punch in the gut. Some of these people have never needed our help before. We are asking you to join our efforts to put food on the tables of those who literally have to depend on the kindness of strangers during this year’s holiday season.”
The Mission will be accepting donations of frozen turkeys and nonperishable food items such as: stuffing, instant potatoes, gravy mix, mac & cheese, canned sweet potatoes, canned corn, canned green beans, canned fruit, cranberry sauce, pie filling or Jell-O at numerous locations starting Saturday, November 6th:
· John 3:16 Mission at 506 N. Cheyenne Ave. 7 am to 7 pm Mon - Sun through Nov. 22
· Family & Youth Center at 2027 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. 9 am to 5 pm
Mon - Fri through Nov. 22
· Under the Sun Garden Center - 91st Street and Sheridan Avenue - during business hours throughout the month of November.
Additional food drives will take place:
November 6, 2021
- Reasors: 1100 E. Kenosha, Broken Arrow
- Reasors: 7114 S. Sheridan, Tulsa
- Reasors: 11815 E. 86th St. N., Owasso
- Reasors: 11550 N. 135th E. Ave. Owasso
- Reasors: 446 S. Elm St., Jenks
- Reasors - 4909 East 41st Street Tulsa
November 13, 2020
- Reasors: 3915 S. Peoria Ave, Tulsa
- Reasors: 11116 South Memorial, Bixby
- SAM’S: Tulsa Hills - 7757 S Olympia- Owasso
- Walmart: 12101 East 96th Street North Owasso
- Walmart: 12912 East 86th Street North, Owasso
- Walmart: 3116 South Garnett Road, Tulsa
November 20, 2020
- Walmart Neighborhood Market: 12912 E. 86th St. N., Owasso
- Walmart: 4404 South Peoria Ave
- Walmart: 3116 South Garnett Road, Tulsa
- SAM’S: Tulsa Hills - 7757 S Olympia, Tulsa
Thanksgiving food baskets for struggling Tulsa area residents will be distributed on November 22, 23 and 24 from 9 am to 3 pm each day at John 3:16 Mission’s Family & Youth Center, 2027 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Photo ID and proof of address required. One food basket per household.
John 3:16 Mission encourages individuals, churches, businesses and other organizations to take part in this year’s Thanksgiving food drive.
In addition, the Mission serves a sit-down Thanksgiving Banquet for the Homeless at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 23rd in New Life Hall, at 506 N. Cheyenne Ave.
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