ADA, OK – The Chickasaw Nation and Feed the Children partnered again this year to bring holiday care packages to hundreds of Pontotoc County families during a Holiday Resource Rally. The holiday care packages were distributed to an estimated 800 Ada-area families during a drive thru event conducted at the Pontotoc County Agri-Plex. The packages provided families with food and essentials, including a 25-pound box of food filled with canned vegetables, soup, pasta, cereal and peanut butter. Families also received a 15-pound box of personal care items, as well as children’s books, toys and other products.
This is the 10th year the Chickasaw Nation and Feed the Children have partnered to provide resources to families across Oklahoma during the holiday season through the event.
“The Chickasaw Nation’s collaboration with Feed the Children helps carry out our mission, to enhance the overall quality of life of the Chickasaw people, and extend that mission to our neighbors,” said Joy Standridge, Chickasaw Nation Director of Child Nutrition. “A Holiday Resource Rally is one of the ways the Chickasaw Nation can bless families in this area.”
“We hope offering these gifts to our Chickasaw families and neighbors will brighten their holiday season, and we are pleased to once again work with Feed the Children to help serve Oklahoma families,” said Standridge.
Oklahoma is among the states with the highest levels of food insecurity in the nation, based on recent U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports. With 16% of Ada residents living below the poverty line (according to the U.S. Census Bureau), the high cost of food, transportation, housing and energy are stretching budgets of individuals, making it more challenging to put food on the table. With one in five children in the U.S. experiencing food insecurity, hunger remains a significant issue. Together with support from partners and the public, Feed the Children aims to provide 10 million meals across the nation during the holiday season.
The Pontotoc County event was one of several events conducted nationwide by Feed the Children in November and December. The Holiday Resource Rally events aim to supply food and essentials to children and families during the holidays, as well as bring awareness to the important issue of childhood hunger.
“The holidays can be especially difficult for families struggling to put food on the table, and far too many children are going without the food and hygiene essentials they need to thrive this time of year,” said Emily Callahan, President and CEO of Feed the Children. “We deeply value our powerful, decade-long partnership with the Chickasaw Nation, which has allowed us to support more Chickasaw families and our Oklahoma family and neighbors, making a greater impact together. This holiday, our collaboration is a step closer to realizing our vision of a world where no child goes to bed hungry.”
During the Pontotoc County event, more than 50 volunteers and staff donned Santa hats and worked to unload the large Feed the Children tractor trailer, greet participants, load packages and direct vehicles. Most of the volunteers were Chickasaw Nation employees who volunteer at the event each year.
