CrystalRock Cathedral in Ardmore has successfully launched its long-cherished dream of providing a No Cost Meals program for local children. This initiative operates daily from Monday to Friday, offering breakfast and lunch at the church. The project is made possible through partnerships with community organizations and relies heavily on volunteer support. While currently serving shelf-stable items, the church aspires to expand into hot meals and family groceries by summer's end. Moreover, their ultimate goal is to sustain this effort year-round, requiring ongoing community involvement.
The church envisions transforming this temporary program into a permanent fixture, emphasizing the importance of continuous support. Through collaboration with the regional food bank of Oklahoma, they aim to meet nutritional needs while fostering personal growth among volunteers who participate in these compassionate endeavors.
This new initiative at CrystalRock Cathedral provides essential meals for young ones during weekdays. Breakfast is served between 9 and 9:30 AM, followed by lunch from 11 AM to noon. With financial constraints, the church collaborates closely with external resources like the regional food bank of Oklahoma to secure necessary provisions. Their immediate focus remains on sustaining current operations while preparing for future expansions that include more varied meal options.
The establishment of the No Cost Meals program reflects a deep-seated desire within the congregation to address childhood hunger effectively. By partnering strategically with supportive entities outside their walls, they ensure reliable access to nourishment for many families. Initially concentrating on ready-to-eat snacks and non-perishable goods, there are plans underway to introduce warm dishes soon. Such efforts not only satisfy immediate dietary requirements but also lay groundwork for broader community engagement over time.
Beyond feeding youngsters, CrystalRock Cathedral seeks sustained annual operation which necessitates robust participation from both inside and outside its membership base. To achieve lasting success, organizers depend upon increased manpower alongside generous donations from surrounding neighborhoods. Volunteerism plays a critical role here; individuals like Lisa Anthony exemplify how contributing positively impacts one’s character development alongside aiding others less fortunate.
Doug Brown highlights the necessity of additional helping hands moving forward as interest grows locally around this cause. He notes that while initial progress has been encouraging thanks largely due to existing supporters, further expansion hinges critically upon enhanced cooperation levels across various sectors including businesses, schools, civic groups etc., willing to lend assistance regularly. For those involved personally such as Lisa Anthony whose perspective towards humanity shifted profoundly through active involvement, participating becomes transformative experience enriching lives beyond mere sustenance provision alone - creating ripple effects throughout entire communities touched indirectly too via acts kindness initiated originally here at CrystalRock Cathedral itself!