Pay it forward

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Pay it forward

Tue, 04/07/2020 - 15:21
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El Reno combining efforts to help feed those in need during coronavirus outbreak

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Businesses all over the nation are doing extraordinary things to try and keep the doors open while finding ways to also help the communities where they provide services.

In El Reno, some restaurants and churches have partnered to help feed those who may be without during the worldwide pandemic caused by the coronavirus or COVID-19. Stores such as Walmart and United are beginning to see shelves again filled with food and household items such as toilet paper. When the COVID-19 scare first erupted, panicked buyers swamped the stores, stripping the shelves bare.

And like some other public school districts, El Reno is providing sack breakfasts and lunches to students five days a week. A backpack with food for the weekend is handed out to students each Friday.

An idea to help “pay it forward” sprouted last week when some churches partnered with Primo’s to deliver curbside fresh, hot-cooked food each Saturday. The meals are ordered through the churches or by calling the restaurant directly. The meals can be picked up from 3 to 6 p.m. on Saturday in front of the Tribune, 102 E. Wade.

Jeff Havern, founder and owner of Primo’s, said the Italian dinners are enough to feed four to six people. The food can also be refrigerated or frozen to be reheated and eaten later.

“It’s a way to help pay it forward,” Havern said. He said those who are financially able can purchase a meal package for others in the community who may not be as fortunate.

Other El Reno restaurants such as Swadley’s, Sid’s Diner, Robert’s Grill and Eischen’s in Okarche are also offering drive-thru and curbside delivery. Vickie’s C-Store offers food for order that can be picked up at the drive-thru.

El Reno’s Mobile Meals had to suspend its daily deliveries due to the majority of its clients and workers falling inside the age group considered most vulnerable, 60 and above.

The organization feeds close to 160 mostly elderly each weekday. It identified 34 of those clients who did not have family members living in El Reno or the surrounding area that could provide help. Those 34 were given a food box to last until April 8.

Mobile Meals partnered with The Lord’s Harvest to take over on that date feeding the 34 clients with a box of goods set to last two weeks. Then another box of food will be delivered for another two-week period.

Christina Ramsey, Mobile Meals director, said the partnership with The Lord’s Harvest will continue until the state says it’s clear for daily food service to continue. Mobile Meals will make a monetary donation to The Lord’s Harvest to help cover the added expenses of feeding those 34 clients.

Ramsey said Mobile Meals has also created “phone buddies” who will be contacting all 160 clients to check on their emotional and physical status two to three times a week.

She said any of the Mobile Meals clients can request any basic items from local stores and the organization will go get them at no cost.

“We passed out letters last week, but we want them to know if they need something like groceries or if they just need to talk to someone, they can call their phone buddy or call the Mobile Meals office and I am checking messages on that number several times a day.

“We will go get them items on their basic needs list like food, personal hygiene or other items and Mobile Meals will pay for it and bring it to them so they don’t have to get out of their homes and they can stay safe,” said Ramsey.

The Mobile Meals office number is 405-262-8623 and Ramsey’s number is 405-318-2648.