Kids and adults are making the difference in the Heart for the Hungry Campaign for the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.
The 2016 campaign marks its first anniversary in February and is focused on getting as many corporations and employees as possible involved in feeding hungry people in 24 northeast Oklahoma counties.
Eric Kunkel, CCK Strategies founding partner and Food Bank board president, sees the results from both sides.
No specific goal has been set, other than to increase volunteer involvement.
Corporations are regularly asked to make a donation, Kunkel said. The Heart for the Hungry campaign uses a different approach by asking for time, which makes people think and look at what they are doing.
Some corporations have food and fund drives with the results donated to the food bank.
Others come out and help on the food sorting line and get to see the inner workings of the organization.
Kunkel initially introduced the idea to other corporate executives and clients in 2015.
The results surprised everyone because CCK Strategies found it got back more than they gave.
Clients liked the idea and stepped up to help — some for a few hours, others longer.
Individuals reluctant at first to help, now step up and often are first in line to volunteer.
The idea was talked up among corporations and families and it brought about unexpected results.
A house was donated to the food bank and Chinowth & Cohen Realtors stepped up to help sell the property. The real estate firm did a lot of work and did not collect a commission, Bradshaw said.
Roland Group employees started volunteering and now are regularly seen at the 1304 N. Kenosha St. facility.
These are just three companies who made the difference last year, Kunkel said. There were at least 50,000 hours of volunteer time that would have cost more than $1 million in payroll costs to staff the facility.
Employees from many companies talked about the volunteer idea around the dinner table and their children wanted to get involved.
Discussions helped make people aware that hunger really exists in Tulsa and the area.
Tulsa’s younger generation also stepped up.
“We are finding that young people really want to help in their community,” Kunkel said. “They want to be involved with a corporation that looks at community involvement rather than just the bottom line.”
Cindy Mills, CCK firm administrator, said her 4-year-old grandson couldn’t imagine anyone being hungry. Another family member, a great-grandmother, didn’t volunteer physically to work on the sorting line but donated $20 towards buying food. That donation translates into 80 meals.
“We found that everyone who became aware of the Community Food Bank of Oklahoma’s needs wanted to help in some way,” Kunkel said.
Wells, who teaches a weight loss class, said the No. 1 talk by many people in 2016 is how they need to lose weight.
One thing that might help is by eating less and donating the difference to the food bank, she suggested.
One in four young Oklahomans are hungry, and one in six of all ages in the state go without adequate meals, Kunkel said.
The message that is coming across to corporations and individuals is that hunger exists and people don’t know it.
One person can be hungry in the workplace and another satisfied.
Bradshaw, in her administrative role, sees people step out of the corporate atmosphere to work for two or three hours in a cooperative atmosphere and the stress of work and competition is put aside.
Twice monthly family volunteer nights have also been established that allows families with children ages 8 and up to volunteer together from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Bradshaw said. Dates for the family day varies because of other scheduled activities but can be learned by calling 918-585-2800.
“I have seen children that needed coaxing the first time they came here,” she said. “They are eager to get involved after that first experience.”
Some board members talk about the fact they got involved because of their children’s interest and excitement about the food bank, Bradshaw added. Their kids came and volunteered at the dinner table.
The family aspect is two-way, parents want to teach children how to give back and be active. Kids encourage parents to spend time after work on weekends feeding the hungry. Each generation sort of inspires the other.
It becomes a social event. One child had a birthday party benefitting the food bank.
Now the child is on the food bank’s mailing list. Now the mother, father, daughter and brother are all food bank supporters.
Bradshaw has a large tapestry on her office wall showing pictures of happy, well-fed children varying from infants to toddlers.
It serves as a reminder that not all children are in these situations.
“Kids are born with a tremendous heart,” Kunzel said. “We need to make sure we cherish that. Don’t change them. Let them change you.”
Kids and adults, through volunteering at the food bank, are feeding the hungry.
