What’s for dinner?

It’s a recurring question for every household, but for some the answer doesn’t come easy.

With rising inflation and food prices, many people are struggling to make ends meet and put food on the table.

Fortunately, Kingfisher County has several resources available to help meet those needs.

However, they, too, are in need of help...

Kingfisher County Food Bank, operating out of the Kingfisher Church of the Nazarene, provides food and other essential items to families and individuals in Kingfisher County who meet certain criteria.

Qualifying families or individuals can receive a box of nonperishable food every 30 days, which helps feed a family of four (or a bigger box for larger families) for a month.

Volunteer director Danica Kramer said the nonprofit organization serves residents of Kingfisher County and doesn’t accept any state or federal funds, operating totally on donations of food and monetary resources as well as help from volunteers to organize, pack and distribute resources.

Some of the items included in the boxes are canned fruit and vegetables, pasta and pasta sauce, canned meats, boxed cereals, peanut butter and other nonperishable items (and must have an unexpired date).

Other items, such as meat, eggs, butter, milk and other frozen or refrigerated items are purchased once a month at United Supermarket as funds allow, Kramer added.

“Inflation and high prices are affecting everyone,” Kramer said.

It also affects how many supplies the food bank is able to purchase and Kramer works hard to “stretch the funds” to best utilize the resources.

In September the food bank served 133 boxes of supplies to families in need, which is an increase over the average 65-70 boxes they usually distribute.

Another reason for the increase, she said, is that Kingfisher Frontline Ministries’ food bank recently had to put a halt on their services due to a lack of volunteers.

Hoping to reopen in January, Frontline pastor Debbie Burpo said the team at Frontline understands the great need in Kingfisher for food pantries and when the food bank closed in August it was serving 120 families a month.

“It takes a tremendous amount of work to serve that many families and unfortunately it became impossible to manage due to the lack of volunteers,” she said.

“At this time we are regrouping with hopes to reopen in January if we can get a team of volunteers to help us serve.”

Although donations have not been as strong lately, Kramer said the food bank did receive a recent boost “which will really help” through the annual Sts. Peter and Paul youth group’s trick or treat food drive, which garnered over 1,500 pounds of nonperishable items.

Typically donations decrease from Christmas to tax season, Kramer said, and the next major drive doesn’t occur until the U.S. Postal Service “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive in May.

All help, whether donations or volunteering, are greatly appreciated, Kramer added.

Another resource available for Kingfisher Public Schools’ students and their families is the Jacket Food Pantry, located just north of Kingfisher Upper Elementary.

Under the supervision of Kingfisher High School counselor Paula Leffingwell, the Jacket Food Pantry receives food once a month from the Oklahoma Regional Food Bank and accepts donations of food and monetary resources as well.

In addition, the pantry is supplemented with items such as butter, eggs, cheese, bread, bacon, sausage and fresh milk (on occasion) as well as packages of beef purchased at cost from a local farming family.

Families who meet qualifi cations can receive “four full bags of food plus a box of frozen and refrigerated items” every two weeks, Leffingwell said.

Although there is criteria to receive the items, Leffingwell added that no KPS student will be turned away.

In addition to the food products, both Leffingwell and Kramer expressed a need for personal hygiene items and any donations are appreciated.

Examples include shampoo/ conditioner sets, toothpaste, toothbrushes, bar soap (or body wash), deodorant, feminine products, laundry and dish soap, diapers and baby food as well as other items.

Another interesting idea that Leffingwell shared was putting together “birthday kits” with a cake mix, frosting, a simple card and gift bag.

Finding volunteers to receive and organize the donations, stock the shelves and distribute donations can be a challenge for many food pantries, Leffingwell said, but the Jacket Food Pantry is blessed to have students in the adjacent Jacket Academy who help with unloading and stocking supplies on a monthly basis.

Currently, Leffingwell said the school’s food pantry is well-stocked and KPS staff and students are participating in the annual school food drive which lasts through Nov. 9.

On that note, Leffingwell mentioned that Nov. 10 is Kingfisher’s World Day of Kindness and that if anyone would like to “be kind” and volunteer to unload and unpack food drive donations, the help would be appreciated and they can reach out to her before that day.

Also in conjunction with World Kindness Day, Kramer said, United Way and MarkWest Energy Partners will be joining with the Kingfi sher Food Bank to help purchase turkeys to be distributed during the holidays for the families they serve.

Cimarron Electric Cooperative is also holding a food drive in which staff can donate desserts and side items typically included in holiday meals, Kramer said.

There are so many people hurting financially and sometimes people hesitate to reach out for help, she said, but then they reach a point where they don’t know what else to do.

“It takes teamwork,” Kramer said, “We can also direct people to other resources in the community like the Salvation Army or other avenues of help.”

“It’s so important to support food banks and keep them going,” Kramer said, “because if we don’t have the support, we can’t continue to provide for other people and help them.”

HOW TO HELP:

For more information on services or how to help contact Kramer at 405-3684764 (or mail monetary donations, which are tax deductible, to Kingfisher County Food Bank, P.O. Box 92, Kingfisher, OK 73750) or Leffingwell at 405-3754191 (or your child’s school counselor).