U.S. Marine Corps veteran J.C. Wilson receives food from the tribe's new mobile food pantry established with the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. Cherokee Nation Tribal Council Speaker Joe Byrd and Deputy Chief S. Joe Crittenden load items in Wilson's car.
TAHLEQUAH, Okla.-Disabled U.S. Marine Corps veteran J.C. Wilson drove his silver Nissan Versa into the parking lot of the Cherokee Nation Veterans Center on Tuesday, where volunteers loaded it with everything from fresh tomatoes, avocados and apples to canned milk and crackers.
He was among 125 veterans or widows of veterans to benefit from the tribe's new mobile food pantry established with the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, according to a release.
The new arrangement started Tuesday with 10,000 pounds of food and will offer mobile pantries to veterans quarterly.
"Any time you can get help with food it's great, especially with the price of groceries getting higher," said Wilson, of Tahlequah. "I'm disabled and retired, but I do work with the color guard and think this will help a lot of veterans. I'm proud of Cherokee Nation for doing this."
Principal Chief Bill John Baker shook veterans' hands as they drove up, and Deputy Chief S. Joe Crittenden helped load food.
"It means so much to know that our state, our community and our Nation is working together to help our veterans," said Crittenden, a U.S. Navy veteran. "At the end of the month, times can get a little rough for some of our veterans working to feed their families, and this is such a great partnership that we get to celebrate today with the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. I know that we are making a world of difference in the lives of so many veterans and their families."
The Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, based in Tulsa, serves about 110,000 veterans and their families in their service area.
"The Cherokee Nation is off to a fantastic start. This food pantry is highly organized, and you can see people interacting and having a good time but also doing the right thing for veterans," said Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma Outreach Coordinator James Lyall. "We have more than 6,000 veterans in Cherokee County, so it's great that we can expand our circle to Cherokee veterans."
The Cherokee Nation identified and distributed tickets to veterans in need for the mobile food pantry. The next delivery is scheduled for August.
The Mobile Pantry Program creates a farmers market-style of food distribution in rural communities. For more information, see okfoodbank.org
