Story and images provided by Our Daily Bread
The Stillwater community has rallied around Our Daily Bread Food & Resource Center since 2015 when it was simply a concept rooted in better serving the neediest people of the community. In Payne County, 18% of people are food insecure—they lack reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious foods. Additionally, 33% of Stillwater residents live below the poverty line and 45% of children in Stillwater qualify for free or reduced school meals. The need is great and Our Daily Bread exists to feed the hungry and provide resources that enable lasting change.
At the end of August, the board of directors, many volunteers, guests, and the community at large helped cut the ribbon to symbolize the completion of the new food and resource facility.
“The idea for Our Daily Bread was developed over years of discussion with pantries that have been operational for a long time,” said Kristine Waits who sits on the board of directors for Our Daily Bread.
“When regulations began to change with the USDA and the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma began to encourage the consolidation of pantries, we knew the time was right,” Waits said.
Our Daily Bread has raised over $1.3M in the last 18 months and completely renovated the old Naval Reserve building at 701 E 12th Ave. The building was leased from the City for $1 per year. Hundreds of volunteers from around the community helped make the facility what it is today. As Our Daily Bread continues to serve guests, more volunteers are needed as sorters, stockers, personal shoppers, and more. The volunteer descriptions and required paperwork can be found at www.OurDailyBreadStillwater.org.
“Our doors will open to serve guests starting September 6th,” said Becky Taylor, Executive Director of Our Daily Bread. “So much hard work has brought us to this starting line. We are eager to share this new facility with our guests.”
Our Daily Bread will be open:
Monday 1pm to 4pm
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday 11am to 2pm
Thursday 3pm to 6pm
Friday 9am to 12pm
3rd Saturday 9am to 12pm
“Guests will be able to come every 30 days,” said Taylor. “However, from time to time we may have excess produce and bakery goods from our Retail Recovery program. Because that food won’t keep, we will have an area for surplus where guests may help themselves.”
Those in need of food assistance will need to bring a photo ID, proof of residence in Payne County, and an ID for each member of the family. A family of four can expect to take home about 90 lbs of food, the equivalent of 75 meals.
The USDA sets requirements for those who qualify. A family of four, for example, has to have a household income at or below $867 per week or $3,793 per month. The full income matrix is available on their website: www.OurDailyBreadStillwater.org.
“Guests will receive food free of charge,” Waits said. “Therefore efforts will be ongoing to secure funds for operations.” The Hunger Feast Fundraiser will be held on September 29th at the ConocoPhillips Alumni Center. “This will be a fundraiser unlike any other,” Taylor said. “We hope you will join us.”
Tickets are available at www.OurDailyBreadStillwater.org or by calling 405.533.2555.