ARDMORE, OK – More than 130 volunteers from across south-central Oklahoma came together March 3 at the Ardmore Readiness Center for a high-energy evening of service, packing 50,000 nutritious meals in just two hours during the Feed the Funnel event sponsored by Mercy Hospital and coordinated by the United Way of South Central Oklahoma.
The event mobilized community members, Mercy caregivers, and local volunteers who worked side by side to turn compassion into action. With music playing and an assembly line of volunteers moving quickly, the group successfully packed thousands of meals that will now help provide hunger relief to families across the region.
“Helping to feed our neighbors is a natural extension of Mercy’s mission as a healing ministry of Jesus,” said Lorraine Acevedo-Cardona, Mercy’s director of Integrated Health and Social Care. “Feed the Funnel events are also a lot of fun for our caregivers. We get together, turn on the music, and enjoy some fellowship while doing meaningful work side by side.”
Following the event, United Way of South Central Oklahoma coordinated the distribution of the meals to 23 area food banks and partner agencies, ensuring the food reaches families quickly and efficiently throughout their five-county region.
“This event shows what happens when a community comes together with purpose,” said Bryce Chitwood, Executive Director of United Way of South Central Oklahoma. “In just two hours, volunteers packed 50,000 meals that will support neighbors facing food insecurity. We are grateful to Mercy Hospital for their leadership and to every volunteer who stepped up to serve. United is the way we strengthen our community.”
Community members interested in learning more about United Way’s hunger relief and community resiliency efforts can contact the United Way of South Central Oklahoma at 580-223-1401 or visit www.uwsco.org.
Local Organizations Distributing Meals
20th District Grug Court Division II
Ardmore Soup Kitchen
Big 5 Ardmore
Big 5 Marietta
Bread of Life
Community Youth Services
Davis FBC Food Bank
Davis Seniors
Food and Resource Center of South Central Oklahoma
Food Bank Marietta (Mercy)
Grace Center
Healdton Hospital Food Bank (Mercy)
HFMC Food Bank
INCA Murray County
INCA RSVP
Jo Co Veteran's Center
Love Co Senior Program
Marietta Food Bank (FBC)
Our Neighbors Cupboard
Ringling Food Bank (UMC)
Sulphur Food Bank (UMC)
Wilson Food Bank