The Chickasaw Nation and Feed the Children Partner to Bring Hope for the Holidays to 800 Marietta Families by Delivering Food, Essentials
MARIETTA, Okla. (Dec. 12, 2024) – The Chickasaw Nation and Feed the Children are partnering to bring No Hunger Holidays to 800 Marietta families during the season of giving. The event will provide children and families with much-needed food and essentials and will be held Thursday, Dec. 12, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Love County Fairgrounds, 502 N. 2nd Ave.
Each participating family will drive through to receive a five-day supply of family meal kits designed to feed a family of four each day; a 15-pound box of daily essentials such as shampoo, conditioner, lotion and personal-care items as well as books and toys.
The Chickasaw Nation and Feed the Children have partnered for several years to provide resources to thousands of families across Oklahoma during the holiday season.
“The Chickasaw Nation’s collaboration with Feed the Children helps demonstrate how our mission, to enhance the overall quality of life of the Chickasaw people, extends to enhance the lives of our neighbors,” Joy Standridge, director of Chickasaw Nation child nutrition, said. “We hope offering these gifts to our Chickasaw families and neighbors will brighten their holiday season and we are pleased to once again work with Feed the Children to help serve Oklahoma families.”
Oklahoma currently ranks in the top 5 hungriest states in the country, according to recent USDA reports. The No Hunger Holidays campaign aims to supply food and essentials to children and families during the holidays, as well as bring awareness to the important issue of childhood hunger. With more than 19 percent of Marietta residents living below the poverty line, many children feel left out of the festivities while their parents are concerned with just making ends meet.
Price hikes at the grocery store have made food less affordable for families. Since 2021, food prices have increased by nearly 20 percent according to the USDA. While food inflation has started to ease, prices are still high compared to pre-pandemic levels. Families are also experiencing increased housing costs with average rent costs increasing 30.4 percent nationwide between 2019 and 2023.
Feed the Children has planned No Hunger Holidays events in multiple communities across Oklahoma and around the U.S. as part of its campaign to transform hunger
About Feed the Children
Feed the Children is committed to ending childhood hunger. We believe that no child should go to bed hungry, and so we provide children and families in the U.S. and around the world with the food and essentials kids need to grow and thrive.
Through our programs and partnerships, we feed children today while helping their families and communities build resilient futures. In addition to food, we distribute household and personal care items across the United States to help parents and caregivers maintain stable, food-secure households. Internationally, we expand access to nutritious meals, safe water, improved hygiene and training in sustainable living. Responsible stewards of our resources, we are driven to pursue innovative, holistic and child-focused solutions to the complex challenges of hunger, food insecurity and poverty.
For children everywhere, we believe that having enough to eat is a fundamental right.
Feed the Children | no child should go to bed hungry