TCBA Lawyers Fighting Hunger

On Saturday April 16th local lawyers and judges all came together to provide Easter meals to families in need here in Tulsa. Lawyers Fighting Hunger paired up with Iron Gate of Tulsa to ensure local families were given everything they needed to make this Easter special. This year marks the 13th annual Easter event for Lawyers Fighting Hunger, which also provides turkey and sides for Thanksgiving each year.

Thanks to law firms such Graves McLain, Sherwood McCormick & Robert, and Gorospe Law Group, who were all platinum sponsors. They not only helped raise money for the event, but also donated their time organizing the food and getting it to the families.

While Iron Gate provides hot meals to anyone in need 365 days a year, there is a lack of food pantries in the Tulsa area that can provide the needed resources to make a special holiday meal. Iron Gate Executive Director Carrie Vesely Henderson explained, “Iron Gate serves a meal every day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, we are open. If you’re hungry, we will feed you.” Henderson continues, “The partnership with Lawyers Fighting Hunger, and the distribution through agencies, assists in relieving our agency partners of food distribution and allows them to focus on their core missions and expand the impact of their vital work.”

Lawyers Fighting Hunger helped to fill in this gap by providing local families the ingredients they need to make a holiday meal. This differs from other food banks, which may only have the resources to provide canned and boxed food or kitchens which only have the resources to provide an individual hot meal. Lawyers Fighting Hunger helps families who have access to a kitchen to cook a nice holiday meal, but do not have the finances to purchase the deluxe items needed. “We are happy to provide a complete Easter ham meal to those in need,” Lawyers Fighting Hunger Founder Hugh Robert said. “We know the need is great and we are glad to provide the funds and volunteers to make it a reality.”

These meal kits are assembled by local lawyers and judges, then given to various agencies for distribution. While years past have seen all of the volunteers outside organizing the bags of food, this years rain prevented that from happening. Despite that, all the volunteers came ready to work and assemble bags. The bags of food included hams, corn, fresh potatoes, cake mixes, and tons of other sides to create the perfect Easter dinner. Local judges were seen aiding in the event, as Judge Cantrell helped pass out corn and Judge Moody aided in walking the bags through the lines to help fill them up.

Once the bags are filled, volunteers ensure they make it to various agencies in the Tulsa area for distribution

to local families. These agencies include: Women in Recovery, Women’s Justice Team, Domestic Violence Intervention Services, Dayspring Community Services, Parkview Terrace, Life Senior Services, Youth Services of Tulsa, Arubah Community Clinic, Emergency Infant Services, Parkside Hospital & Clinic, Veteran’s Administration, CURA, EduRec, and the Tulsa Health Department.

Ultimately, Lawyers Fighting Hunger was able to provide 1,000 hams and bags of groceries to over 20 local agencies, and they hosted a drive thru pantry at Iron Gate for families in need. Feeding America project 1 in 5 Oklahomans do not have enough to eat. “Through the generosity of our sponsors and volunteers, and the hard work of Iron Gate and affiliated agencies we are making a huge impact on hunger in Tulsa,” said Lawyer Fighting Hunger Board Member Rachel Gusman. Thanks to the work done by Lawyers Fighting Hunger and Iron Gate, fewer families will be facing that hunger during the holidays.