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TULSA, Okla. — Some area businesses and nonprofits have stepped to the plate by providing donations in support of the Historic Vernon Chapel AME Church’s efforts to help locals in need a meal amid a statewide COVID-19 shelter-in-place order. The iconic north Tulsa church has a long history of pulling together to help its community overcome great odds.
Today there’s no difference. Because despite operating on limited funding, the Historic Vernon Chapel has fed over 1000 Oklahomans since it began offering free carry-out meals upon the onset of Mayor G.T. Bynum’s shelter-in-place citywide order. Depending on supplies, the church has provided drive-through breakfast in the morning, in addition, a bag full of groceries in the afternoon.
“There is a real need in Tulsa right now. Under normal circumstances, many of these families already have to travel far from their homes for groceries,” Vernon AME Pastor, ?Rev. Dr. Robert R.A. Turner? explained. “With the added economic pressures of sweeping unemployment and school closures, we knew we needed to act fast to keep our community from going hungry,” Turner added.
There is also a fear that low-income families may begin to ration their medications in order to keep food on the table. While the church has been blessed to receive donations from a number of businesses and organizations, the need is quickly growing as food lines continue to grow weekly in north Tulsa.
Donations can be dropped off at Vernon AME, 311 N. Green Ave, Tulsa, OK 74120, daily between 10 AM and 12 PM.