COMMUNITY CONNECT
A nonprofit dedicated to working alongside some of the youngest residents of Oklahoma City’s northeast side strives to combat the challenges they face within their community.
or the average Oklahoman, buying groceries is probably more of an inconvenience than a privilege. In a state known for its deep roots in producing food, it is incomprehensible that our own residents would struggle to find and purchase healthy and nutritious food. However, numerous parts of Oklahoma are considered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to be a “food desert,” an area in which fresh or affordable high-quality food is not easily accessible. But residents in a particular food desert in northeast Oklahoma City – many of whom rely on public transportation – live at a great disadvantage when working to maintain a healthy diet, simply because of the particular ZIP code in which they reside. 28 — Oklahoma Country
Yet quietly tucked in the middle of the community lies RestoreOKC, a nonprofit community development ministry that serves as a place of acceptance, value and belonging for residents within the local community. Located near Interstate 35 and 23rd Street in Oklahoma’s capital city, RestoreOKC invites the surrounding community’s residents to take advantage of the numerous fresh food resources available that can be found in its market, community garden and greenhouse. “Many people don’t know the difference between a grocery store and a convenience store,” said DeCapreal McNeal, a 17-year-old RestoreOKC intern. “At a convenience store, the most you can
get is milk and cans of corn.” A typical trip to the grocery store when taking the bus – a primary source of transportation within the community – takes around three hours round trip, and often-times the schedule is inconsistent and unreliable. “One of our neighbors, before our market was open, purchased a loaf of bread for six dollars and once she got home, she realized the bread was moldy,” said Ann Miller, Restore Farms director. “She took the bread back to the store and because a few of the pieces weren’t moldy, they wouldn’t give her a refund.” Basic necessities such as bread, eggs and milk are sometimes available at local convenience stores, but not everyone can