Restore Hope Ministries Blesses 400 Plus Families

Restore Hope Ministries collected and distributed 400 turkeys plus 400 boxes that included canned fruits and vegetables including peas, green beans, yams, and fruit cocktail; fresh vegetables like potatoes, celery, carrots, and onions; dairy items like butter and whipped cream, and other necessities like marshmallows, cake mix, and rolls. Photo by Sharon Catalano

In the days before Thanksgiving, dozens of community volunteer groups joined together at Restore Hope Ministries to prepare and distribute over 400 Thanksgiving baskets to families in crisis. Volunteers of all ages and from diverse backgrounds come together and stand shoulder-to-shoulder to pack the baskets and place them in the hands of neighbors in need.

Volunteers and sponsors include the staff of companies like Tulsa Wealth Advisors, church groups, individuals, and families – like the Haws Family, which has adopted this project as a Thanksgiving family tradition for over 30 years.

“Many of the families we help are hardworking, low to middle income families who are getting by, but just need a little extra help when unexpected events or expenses arise,” explains executive director Jeff Jaynes. “We are here to give them a hand up when they’ve fallen on hard times; to restore hope that a better day is possible. We are here to share the abundance we have received with those who feel like there’s not enough.”  

While many were busy planning Thanksgiving menu or making travel arrangements, an increasing number of Tulsans worried about how they would feed their children on a regular day, let alone prepare a special holiday meal.

With the impacts of inflation causing grocery prices to rise, this year it seems an even more daunting task to many. These Thanksgiving baskets allow Tulsa neighbors to celebrate hope by preparing a traditional Thanksgiving feast with their loved ones. Jaynes added, “After two years of COVID-protocol distribution, our staff is excited to gather with groups in person to serve our neighbors.”

Thanks to the generosity of Tulsa community sponsors, Restore Hope Ministries has been providing Thanksgiving baskets to families in crisis for over 30 years. The 21-ingredient baskets include a turkey and all the trimmings – from fresh produce to dessert.

To properly prepare for the distribution event, families pre-registered for their baskets during the first two weeks of November and retrieved their baskets at one of Restore Hope’s two locations.