City Encourages Giving Back During the Holidays
Commentary By DEWEY F. BARTLETT JR.
Mayor of Tulsa
FIGHTING HUNGER: Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett speaks about hunger in Tulsa and the city’s fourth annual communitywide food drive, to run Dec. 1-Dec. 31. The food drive will benefit the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.
Courtesy City of Tulsa
Downtown Tulsa has a certain glow all year long, but I believe it shines a little brighter during the holiday season.
The Downtown Coordinating Council () holds its Annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony – Ready, Set, Glow! This year’s date: Nov. 30. The progressive holiday event encompasses a tour of four lighting ceremonies at the John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park, the Guthrie Green, Arvest Winterfest and the Deco District’s “S’mores on Boston.”
Each destination’s event will take on a deeper meaning this season as each stop on the tour will benefit a specially selected charity. The John 3:16 Mission is the one organization represented at all four stops where citizens are encouraged to donate new or gently-used blankets.
Tulsans and visitors alike will find the holidays are a great time to discover or re-discover our downtown. I invite you to take in a full day of family-related activities throughout downtown Tulsa. For more details on this holiday event, visit www.downtowntulsaok.com
In line with the holidays is the opportunity to lend a helping hand to those who need it the most. According to the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, one in five Oklahoma children is at risk of going to bed hungry every night. That’s why I’m dedicated to making a difference here in our own community. The city of Tulsa will kick off its fourth annual communitywide food drive on Dec. 1. The food will continue until Dec. 31. Councilor Karen Gilbert will join me again this year to encourage Tulsans to help out with our Stock the Station Food Drive.
Food bins will be in place at City Hall, additional city of Tulsa facilities, police stations, fire stations, and city-county libraries. Our Stock the Station Food Drive will benefit the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, which works with a network of 450 partner programs throughout 24 counties in eastern Oklahoma. Together with its partner programs, the food bank provides more than 335,000 meals each week to those struggling with hunger.
The Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma can turn $1 into seven meals. If you are able to donate, please visit www.cfbeo.org, and click the “Donate Now” button. Also, remember to choose Stock the Station in the drop-down menu so that funds can be earmarked for our citywide food drive. Thank you in advance for your caring spirit in helping make someone’s holiday brighter.
Updated 11-24-2014
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