Oklahoma Sports
oklahomasports.net

Alabama Sports
alabamasports.net

Arizona Sports
arizonasports.net

Arkansas Sports
arkansassports.net

Bryan County Patriot
bryancountypatriot.com

Colorado Sports
coloradosports.net

Emerald Quest Media Care
emeraldquestmedia.net

Georgia Sports
georgiasports.net

Iowa Sports
iowasports.net

Kansas Sports News
kansassports.net

Kentucky Sports
kentuckysports.net

Maryland Sports
marylandsports.net

Midwest Sports
midwestsports.net

Mississippi Sports
mississippisports.net

Missouri Sports
missourisports.net

Nebraska Sports
nebraskasports.net

New Mexico Sports
newmexicosports.net

North Carolina
northcarolinasports.net

Northeast Sports
northeastsports.net

North Dakota Sports
northdakotasports.net

Pennsylvania Sports
pennsylvaniasports.net

SE Sports
sesports.net

South Carolina Sports
southcarolinasports.net

Tennessee Sports
tennesseesports.net

Texas Sports
texassports.net

The Honey Comb Gift
thehoneycombgift.com

What's My Story
whatsmystory.net

Wisconsin Sports
wisconsinsports.net

Oklahoma Sports
oklahomasports.net

Alabama Sports
alabamasports.net

Arizona Sports
arizonasports.net

Arkansas Sports
arkansassports.net

Bryan County Patriot
bryancountypatriot.com

Colorado Sports
coloradosports.net

Emerald Quest Media Care
emeraldquestmedia.net

Georgia Sports
georgiasports.net

Iowa Sports
iowasports.net

Kansas Sports News
kansassports.net

Kentucky Sports
kentuckysports.net

Maryland Sports
marylandsports.net

Midwest Sports
midwestsports.net

Mississippi Sports
mississippisports.net

Missouri Sports
missourisports.net

Nebraska Sports
nebraskasports.net

New Mexico Sports
newmexicosports.net

North Carolina
northcarolinasports.net

Northeast Sports
northeastsports.net

North Dakota Sports
northdakotasports.net

Pennsylvania Sports
pennsylvaniasports.net

SE Sports
sesports.net

South Carolina Sports
southcarolinasports.net

Tennessee Sports
tennesseesports.net

Texas Sports
texassports.net

The Honey Comb Gift
thehoneycombgift.com

What's My Story
whatsmystory.net

Wisconsin Sports
wisconsinsports.net

Oklahoma Sports
oklahomasports.net

Alabama Sports
alabamasports.net

Arizona Sports
arizonasports.net

Arkansas Sports
arkansassports.net

Bryan County Patriot
bryancountypatriot.com

Colorado Sports
coloradosports.net

Emerald Quest Media Care
emeraldquestmedia.net

Georgia Sports
georgiasports.net

Iowa Sports
iowasports.net

Kansas Sports News
kansassports.net

Kentucky Sports
kentuckysports.net

Maryland Sports
marylandsports.net

Midwest Sports
midwestsports.net

Mississippi Sports
mississippisports.net

Missouri Sports
missourisports.net

Nebraska Sports
nebraskasports.net

New Mexico Sports
newmexicosports.net

North Carolina
northcarolinasports.net

Northeast Sports
northeastsports.net

North Dakota Sports
northdakotasports.net

Pennsylvania Sports
pennsylvaniasports.net

SE Sports
sesports.net

South Carolina Sports
southcarolinasports.net

Tennessee Sports
tennesseesports.net

Texas Sports
texassports.net

The Honey Comb Gift
thehoneycombgift.com

What's My Story
whatsmystory.net

Wisconsin Sports
wisconsinsports.net

Oklahoma Sports
oklahomasports.net

Alabama Sports
alabamasports.net

Arizona Sports
arizonasports.net

Arkansas Sports
arkansassports.net

Bryan County Patriot
bryancountypatriot.com

Colorado Sports
coloradosports.net

Emerald Quest Media Care
emeraldquestmedia.net

Georgia Sports
georgiasports.net

Iowa Sports
iowasports.net

Kansas Sports News
kansassports.net

Kentucky Sports
kentuckysports.net

Maryland Sports
marylandsports.net

Midwest Sports
midwestsports.net

Mississippi Sports
mississippisports.net

Missouri Sports
missourisports.net

Nebraska Sports
nebraskasports.net

New Mexico Sports
newmexicosports.net

North Carolina
northcarolinasports.net

Northeast Sports
northeastsports.net

North Dakota Sports
northdakotasports.net

Pennsylvania Sports
pennsylvaniasports.net

SE Sports
sesports.net

South Carolina Sports
southcarolinasports.net

Tennessee Sports
tennesseesports.net

Texas Sports
texassports.net

The Honey Comb Gift
thehoneycombgift.com

What's My Story
whatsmystory.net

Wisconsin Sports
wisconsinsports.net

Tulsa Personal Injury Lawyer
Truskett Law

Bible Blast
Kid's Bible Curriculum

Stu B Que
Tulsa BBQ and Catering

On The Rock Roofing
Owasso Roofer and Roofing Contractor

Oklahoma Dental Office Transitions
Jaquay Enterprise

Oklahoma City Business Lawyer
Bruner Law Firm

Tulsa Dental Crowns
Dental Studio of South Tulsa

McAlester Lawyers
Wagner & Lynch Law

Tulsa Architect
Property Arts

Female Dentist Tulsa
Magnolia Family Dental Care

Tulsa Pediatric Dentist
Children's Dental Health Center

Tulsa Ozone Therapy
Longevity Effect

Broken Arrow Home Health Care
Bright Home Health

Huntsville Personal Injury Lawyer
The Lackey Law Firm

Broken Arrow Pest Control
Bed Bug Heat Treatment

Jenks Dentist
Hopper Dental

Macon Dermatologist Skin Care Physicians of Georgia

Broken Arrow Roof Repair Ark Roofing & Construction

India Missions HBI Global Partners

Tulsa Surveillance Technologies
Tulsa Video Surveillance
Accel Polymers
HIPS Plastic Recycling Business

Insurance Agency in Tulsa AAA Insurance Tulsa

Tulsa Ozone TreatmentDr. Sara Washatka

Tulsa Bathtub ResurfacingBear & Bison Resurfacing Specialists, LLC

Broken Arrow FaceTiteDr. Lee Bottem

Huntsville Web Design
McWilliams Marketing

South Tulsa Counseling
Evolution Mental Health Services

Tulsa General Contractor
Ascend Construction Services

Tulsa IT Support
CamTech

Wholesale Alarm Monitoring
Monitoring America Alarm Co-op

Tulsa Telecommunication Company
Adept Patriot Services

Tulsa Business Coach
Business Acceleration Team

McAlester Criminal Attorney
Foundation Law Firm

Cape Girardeau Palliative Care
Crown Hospice MO

Springfield End of Life Care
Seasons Hospice MO

Victoria TX Palliative Care
Crown Hospice TX

Tulsa End of Life Care
Seasons Hospice OK

Tulsa Business Consulting
Welltide Inc

Broken Arrow Dentist
Dentistry For You Broken Arrow

Sand Springs Dentist Near Me
Dentistry For You Sand Springs

Tulsa Midtown Dentist
Dentistry For You Tulsa

Huntsville Wellness
Synergy Wellness

Tulsa Dentistry Near Me
McDougall DDS

Tulsa Emergency Veterinarian
STATVet Animal Urgent Care

Oklahoma City Dental Practice
Dentistry For You OKC

FMS Aerospace
Aircraft Equipment Racks

The Poop Fairy
Tulsa Pooper Scooper

IV Effect
IV Nutrition

Ashes Away Chimney Sweep Company
Tulsa Chimney Repair

Wagner & Lynch
Eastern Oklahoma Criminal Defense Lawyer

Rivercross Healthcare
Oklahoma & Kansas Hospice Healthcare

Crown Hospice Saint Louis
Saint Louis Hospice Care

Cold Creek Solutions
Cold Storage Houston

The Office Tulsa
Tulsa Co-working Space

Domesticaide
Tulsa Residential Cleaning Companye

Via Sophia Bookkeeping
Virtual Bookkeeper Tulsa

The Mortgage For Seniors

Families Feeding Families continues to serve outside

Photo provided.

By Joey McWilliams

DURANT – Families Feeding Families has been doing just that – feeding families –  in the Durant area for more than a decade.

The average for June was 160 meals per day and FFF usually provides 2,500-3,000 meals each month.

However, for the last year the ministry has been one without a true home base.

For 13 years, FFF operated out of the building that used to house George Washington Elementary School.

But early last summer, difficult circumstances precipitated a move outdoors, according to Leticia Burkhalter, director of Families Feeding Families.

“We started feeding people outside in June 2016 because of some air conditioning issues and it was easier to go outside,” Burkhalter said. “Outside we were getting a breeze.”

And the group has been serving outside since that time.

“The Durant Schools had provided a building that was unoccupied for 13 years,” Burkhatler said. “And they allowed us to serve and cook and to use that building as we needed. But with the state cuts and situations regarding funding needs, they were going to need rent or the ability to do something with the building to assist in the school district’s needs a little bit more.

“So we moved out and we are now cooking either from homes or various other locations, such as churches, and we serve at the Keithley Park, just down the street from the George Washington school by the splash pads. There is a set of picnic tables and it’s covered by a pavilion and we meet there Monday through Friday at 4:30 (in the afternoon) and serve there.”

Photo provided.

Burkhalter said during the time FFF was at the George Washington building, the school covered basically everything financially. The organization did not pay rent, but did repairs and maintenance.

“Since they were already using the school with their alternative program, they allowed us to use the cafeteria with no fees,” Burkhalter said.

With the challenges that go with being outdoors, Burkhalter said the group has kept going well.

“We’ve been really blessed being outside with the weather and the situation, it’s worked out amazing well,” Burkhalter said. “But we know that it’s just a matter of time and we do need a building so that we can meet more needs and it’s safer for the patrons.

Because our patrons have different situations, such as health issues or financial issues, and some shelter and a little bit of air conditioning or heat would be helpful for them. And it would give us more of an opportunity to really minister and to visit with the patrons to find out what their additional needs are.”

The George Washington building is home to Vision Academy. The mission of the academy, according to the Durant ISD website, is to provide students who have dropped out of school and high challenge students who are at risk of dropping out with an alternative path to success. The school’s virtual academy is run from that location as well.

Red River Arts uses space there also, according to DISD Superintendent Duane Merideth, and some art lessons are given and art curriculum supplied for students. The Safe Schools offices have been in there, too.

As for future plans for the building itself, Merideth said it is for sale, and that the district has gone through the proper route to get that done.

Graphic provided.

“The laws says that in order to sell a school building, the No. 1 thing is that the board has to declare it ‘surplus,'” Merideth said. “The law says you have to have a sealed bid offering for the purchase of it. The bid must meet 80 percent of appraised value.

“We’ve done that. We got no bids.

“But then after you’ve done that and you’ve met the statutory requirements, then and only then, you can go out and sell it as you would be selling your own house and take a reasonable amount for it. But it is currently for sale.”

Merideth said he hopes that someday someone would be able to find a great use for the building. And in the mean time, a place could be found for the school programs that currently occupy the building.

“We have some area over at the middle school, the old high school, that we could do some renovations to and put them in a nice place. And from a district perspective, maintaining and paying utilities on one less building is always a good thing, especially one as old as that one is.”

Burkhalter said FFF was thankful for the time spent working with the school.

Photo provided.

“We tremendously appreciate all the school has done and has been willing to do,” Burkhalter said. “Not only have they provided that building for so many years, there were many times they came down and actually helped serve, from administration to teachers to assistants serving.

“We worked together for years and they played an integral part of this program growing. They’ve been a blessing.”

Currently, FFF is getting meals to those who need them from 4:30 to around 5:15 p.m. each weekday.

“Usually until the patrons get through eating or we run out of food,” Burkhalter said.

Burkhalter said there are some leads toward getting in a more permanent facility.

“We do have some people in the community that are wanting to see us in a building, so I think it’s just a matter of prayer and of time and letting everything come together. But we do want the community to be aware of it and to know that their suggestions or offerings are very much appreciated.”

To contact Burkhalter about Families Feeding Families, call (580) 230-9142 or email her at tish@familiesfeedingfamilies.org.

Comments are closed.