Food on the Move, an organization dedicated to serving the community, recently held its last Community Food and Resource Festival of 2024. This marks the end of a remarkable 10-year operation. Program Director Rusty Rowe expressed the significance of the event, stating, "We're here at TCC Northeast Campus bringing together a community food and resource festival. We host three of these each month to provide essential food and resources to the community. There are no strings attached; just come and take what you need."

Donations and Partnerships

Multiple organizations and businesses in the area have come together to support the festival. Frontier Produce donated an impressive 9,000 pounds of produce. The festival also offered hot meals from local food trucks. There are 16 partner organizations involved, dealing with a wide range of aspects such as health, education, job opportunities, and family assistance. For example, A New Leaf, a nonprofit from Broken Arrow, grew poinsettias and radishes that were given away.

Impact on the Community

Each resource festival typically serves around 250 to 300 families, which is equivalent to about 400 to 500 individuals. This significant impact on so many people is at the core of Food on the Move's mission. The organization started as a 100% volunteer-run entity for the first five years, with founder Taylor Hansen shouldering all the expenses. Then, in 2019, the first employee was hired, and in 2020, Rusty Rowe joined as the second employee. Currently, there are 25 people running these events, and they are making a difference by serving over 1,000 families every month. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, it has highlighted the need for a better food system in Tulsa.

Festival Locations

Food on the Move typically holds their resource festivals on specific days and at different locations. On every third Tuesday, it takes place at Chamberlain Park. On every third Thursday, it is at TCC. And on every fourth Tuesday, it is at the Common Good in West Tulsa. These regular events provide a consistent source of support for the community.To learn more about how you can contribute to Food on the Move or access the resources they offer, visit their website at foodonthemoveok.com. This is an opportunity to be a part of something meaningful and help make a positive impact on the lives of those in need.